UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


PAUL 
THE   PEDDLER 

OR 

The  Fortunes  of  a  Toung  Street  Merchant 


BY 
HORATIO    ALGER,   JR. 

AUTHOR  OF    "TATTERED    TOM,"     "SLOW    AND    SURE,"   "THE 

YOUNG  ACROBAT,"    "  PHIL   THE   FIDDLER," 

"  THE  ERIE  TRAIN   BOY,"   ETC. 


CHATTERTON-PECK  COMPANY 
NEW  YORK,  N.  Y. 


lotf 


TO 
MY   DEAR   FRIEND 

CHARLES  DAVIES  SCUDDER 

THIS  VOLUME 
IS  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED 


PREFACE 

In  pursuance  of  my  intention  to  describe  differ- 
ent phases  of  street  life  in  New  York,  I  have 
selected,  as  the  hero  of  the  present  volume,  one 
of  those  young  peddlers,  found  by  hundreds  in 
the  city  streets,  who  earn  a  precarious  living  by 
vending  their  wares  to  such  customers  as  can  be 
prevailed  upon  to  purchase.  Some  of  these  juve- 
nile merchants  are  active  and  enterprising,  and 
display  qualities  which  would  insure  success  in 
business  operations  of  greater  magnitude.  As  a 
rule,  they  are  sharp,  and  know  how  to  turn  a 
penny  as  well  as  their  elders.  Though  the  integ- 
rity of  some  is  not  above  suspicion,  I  am  afraid  the 
same  thing  may  be  said  of  some  older  merchants, 
who  do  business  on  a  considerably  larger  scale. 

If  my  hero,  Paul  Hoffman,  is  above  the  aver- 
age of  his  class,  it  may  be  attributed,  in  part,  to 
the  influence  of  a  good  mother.  Like  hundreds 
of  street  boys,  he  is  the  main  support  of  his 
family;  and,  no  doubt,  this  responsibility  helps  to 
make  him  manly  and  self-reliant. 

New  York,  October  25,  1871. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER         .        .        .        .        .        i 

II.  PAUL  AT  HOME •        9 

III.  PAUL  HAS  COMPETITORS  .        .        .        *        .      18 

IV.  TEDDY  GIVES  UP  BUSINESS  •  .        .        .27 
V.  PAUL  LOSES  His  BASKET         ....      36 

VI.  PAUL  AS  AN  ARTIST 45 

VII.  IN  A  NEW  BUSINESS 54 

VIII.  A  STROKE  OF  ILL  LUCK 63 

IX.  A  NEW  PATRON        ......      73 

X.  ANOTHER  Loss          «        ,        .        .        .        .82 

XL  BARCLAY  &  Co 91 

XII.  THE  BARREL  THIEF 100 

XIII.  OUT  OF  BUSINESS 109 

XIV.  THE  DIAMOND  RING 118 

XV.  THE  PAWNBROKER'S  SHOP        .        .        .        .127 

XVI.    THE  JEWELER'S  PRICE 137 

XVII.    MR.  FELIX  MONTGOMERY         .       .       .       .146 

XVIII.    A  CLEVER  THIEF 156 

vii 


viii  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XIX.    PAUL  DELIBERATES 166 

XX.    THE  THIEF  IN  DISGUISE 170 

XXI.  PAUL  is  CHECKMATED       .        •        .        .        .185 

XXII.  A  MAN  OF  RESOURCES 196 

XXIII.  A  NEW  EXPEDIENT 204 

XXIV.  MR.  MONTGOMERY'S  ARREST    .  .        .214 
XXV.    PAUL'S  FINAL  SUCCESS 224 

XXVI.  CONCLUSION                                      .       .       .233 


PAUL    THE    PEDDLER 

CHAPTER  I 

PAUL   THE    PEDDLER 

"  Here's  your  prize  packages !  Only  five  cents ! 
Money  prize  in  every  package !  Walk  up,  gentle- 
men, and  try  your  luck !  " 

The  speaker,  a  boy  of  fourteen,  stood  in  front 
of  the  shabby  brick  building,  on  Nassau  Street, 
which  has  served  for  many  years  as  the  New 
York  post  office.  In  front  of  him,  as  he  stood 
with  his  back  to  the  building,  was  a  small  basket, 
filled  with  ordinary  letter  envelopes,  each  labeled 
"  Prize  Package." 

His  attractive  announcement,  which,  at  that 
time,  had  also  the  merit  of  novelty — for  Paul  had 
himself  hit  upon  the  idea,  and  manufactured  the 
packages,  as  we  shall  hereafter  explain — drew 
around  him  a  miscellaneous  crowd,  composed 
chiefly  of  boys. 

"What's  in  the  packages,  Johnny?"  asked  a 
bootblack,  with  his  box  strapped  to  his  back. 


2  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Candy,"  answered  Paul.  "  Buy  one.  Only 
five  cents." 

"  There  ain't  much  candy/'  answered  the  boot- 
black, with  a  disparaging  glance. 

"What  if  there  isn't?     There's  a  prize." 

"How  big  a  prize?  " 

"  There's  a  ten-cent  stamp  in  some  of  'em.  AH 
have  got  something  in  'em." 

Influenced  by  this  representation,  the  boot- 
black drew  out  a  five-cent  piece,  and  said : 

"  Pitch  one  over  then.     I  guess  I  can  stand  it." 

An  envelope  was  at  once  handed  him. 

"  Open  it,  Johnny,"  said  a  newsboy  at  his  side. 

Twenty  curious  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him  as  he 
opened  the  package.  He  drew  out  rather  a  scanty 
supply  of  candy,  and  then  turning  to  Paul,  with  a 
look  of  indignation,  said : 

"  Where's  the  prize  ?  I  don't  see  no  prize. 
Give  me  back  my  five  cents." 

"  Give  it  to  me.  I'll  show  you,"  said  the  young 
merchant. 

He  thrust  in  his  finger,  and  drew  out  a  square 
bit  of  paper,  on  which  was  written — One  Cent. 

"  There's  your  prize,"  he  added,  drawing  a 
penny  from  his  pocket. 

"  It  ain't  much  of  a  prize,"  said  the  buyer. 
"  Where's  your  ten  cents  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  say  I  put  ten  cents  into  every  pack- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  3 

age,"  answered  Paul.  "  I'd  burst  up  pretty  quick 
if  I  did  that.  Who'll  have  another  package? 
Only  five  cents !  " 

Curiosity  and  taste  for  speculation  are  as  pre- 
valent among  children  as  with  men,  so  this  appeal 
produced  its  effect. 

"  Give  me  a  package,"  said  Teddy  O'Brien,  a 
newsboy,  stretching  out  a  dirty  hand,  containing 
the  stipulated  sum.  He  also  was  watched  curi- 
ously as  he  opened  the  package.  He  drew  out  a 
paper  bearing  the  words — Two  Cents. 

"  Bully  for  you,  Teddy !  You've  had  better 
luck  than  I,"  said  the  bootblack. 

The  check  was  duly  honored,  and  Teddy 
seemed  satisfied,  though  the  amount  of  candy  he 
received  probably  could  not  have  cost  over  half  a 
cent.  Still,  he  had  drawn  twice  as  large  a  prize 
as  the  first  buyer,  and  that  was  satisfactory. 

"  Who'll  take  the  next?  "  asked  Paul,  in  a  busi- 
nesslike manner.  "  Maybe  there's  ten  cents  in 
this  package.  That's  where  you  double  your 
money.  Walk  up,  gentlemen.  Only  five  cents !  " 

Three  more  responded  to  this  invitation,  one 
drawing  a  prize  of  two  cents,  the  other  two  of 
one  cent  each.  Just  then,  as  it  seemed  doubtful 
whether  any  more  would  be  purchased  by  those 
present,  a  young  man,  employed  in  a  Wall  Street 
house,  came  out  of  the  post  office. 


4  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  What  have  you  got  here  ?  "  he  asked,  paus- 
ing. 

"  Prize  packages  of  candy !  Money  prize  in 
every  package !  Only  five  cents !  " 

"  Give  me  one,  then.  I  never  drew  a  prize 
in  my  life." 

The  exchange  was  speedily  made. 

"  I  don't  see  any  prize,"  he  said,  opening  it. 

"  It's  on  a  bit  of  paper,  mister,"  said  Teddy, 
nearly  as  much  interested  as  if  it  had  been  his  own 
purchase. 

"Oh,  yes,  I  see.  Well,  I'm  in  luck.  Ten 
cents ! " 

"  Ten  cents !  "  exclaimed  several,  the  less  for- 
tunate buyers,  with  a  shade  of  envy. 

"  Here's  your  prize,  mister,"  said  Paul,  drawing 
out  a  ten-cent  stamp  from  his  vest  pocket. 

"  Well,  Johnny,  you  do  things  on  the  square, 
that's  a  fact.  Just  keep  the  ten  cents,  and  give 
me  two  more  packages." 

This  Paul  did  with  alacrity;  but  the  Wall  Street 
clerk's  luck  was  at  an  end.  He  got  two  prizes 
of  a  penny  each. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  I'm  not  much  out  of  pocket. 
I've  bought  three  packages,  and  it's  only  cost  me 
three  cents." 

The  ten-cent  prize  produced  a  favorable  effect 
on  the  business  of  the  young  peddler.  Five  more 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  5 

packages  were  bought,  and  the  contents  eagerly 
inspected;  but  no  other  large  prize  appeared. 
Two  cents  was  the  maximum  prize  drawn.  Their 
curiosity  being  satisfied,  the  crowd  dispersed ;  but 
it  was  not  long  before  another  gathered.  In  fact, 
Paul  had  shown  excellent  judgment  in  selecting 
the  front  of  the  post  office  as  his  place  of  business. 
Hundreds  passed  in  and  out  every  hour,  besides 
those  who  passed  by  on  a  different  destination. 
Thus  many  ears  caught  the  young  peddler's  cry — 
"Prize  packages!  Only  five  cents  apiece!" — 
and  made  a  purchase;  most  from  curiosity,  but 
some  few  attracted  by  the  businesslike  bearing  of 
the  young  merchant,  and  willing  to  encourage 
him  in  his  efforts  to  make  a  living.  These  last, 
as  well  as  some  of  the  former  class,  declined  to 
accept  the  prizes,  so  that  these  were  so  much  gain 
to  Paul. 

At  length  but  one  package  remained,  and  this 
Paul  was  some  time  getting  rid  of.  At  last  a 
gentleman  came  up  holding  a  little  boy  of  seven 
by  the  hand. 

"  Oh,  buy  me  the  package,  papa  ?  "  he  said, 
drawing  his  father's  attention. 

"  What  is  there  in  it,  boy?  "  asked  the  gentle- 
man. 

"  Candy,"  was  the  answer. 

Alfred,  for  this  was  the  little  boy's  name,  re- 


6  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

newed  his  entreaties,  having,  like  most  boys,  a 
taste  for  candy. 

"  There-it  is,  Alfred,"  said  his  father,  handing 
the  package  to  his  little  son. 

"  There's  a  prize  inside,"  said  Paul,  seeing  that 
they  were  about  to  pass. 

"  We  must  look  for  the  prize  by  all  means," 
said  the  gentleman.  "  What  is  this  ?  One 
cent!" 

"  Yes,  sir; "  and  Paul  held  out  a  cent  to  his 
customer. 

"  Never  mind  about  that !  You  may  keep  the 
prize." 

"  I  want  it,  pa,"  interposed  Alfred,  with  his 
mouth  full  of  candy. 

"  I'll  give  you  another,"  said  his  father,  still 
declining  to  accept  the  proffered  prize. 

Paul  now  found  himself  in  the  enviable  position 
of  one  who,  at  eleven  o'clock,  had  succeeded  in 
disposing  of  his  entire  stock  in  trade,  and  that  at 
an  excellent  profit,  as  we  soon  shall  see.  Business 
had  been  more  brisk  with  him  than  with  many 
merchants  on  a  larger  scale,  who  sometimes  keep 
open  their  shops  all  day  without  taking  in  enough 
to  pay  expenses.  But,  then,  it  is  to  be  considered 
that  in  Paul's  case  expenses  were  not  a  formidable 
item.  He  had  no  rent  to  pay,  for  one  thing,  nor 
clerk  hire,  being  competent  to  attend  to  his  entire 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  7 

business  single-handed.  All  his  expense,  in  fact, 
was  the  first  cost  of  his  stock  in  trade,  and  he  had 
so  fixed  his  prices  as  to  insure  a  good  profit  on 
that.  So  on  the  whole,  Paul  felt  very  well  satis- 
fied at  the  result  of  his  experiment,  for  this  was 
his  first  day  in  the  prize-package  business. 

"  I  guess  I'll  go  home,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  Mother'll  want  to  know  how  I  made  out."  He 
turned  up  Nassau  Street,  and  had  reached  the  cor- 
ner of  Maiden  Lane,  when  Teddy  O'Brien  met 
him. 

"  Did  you  sell  out,  Johnny  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Paul. 

"  How  many  packages  did  you  have  ?  " 

"  Fifty." 

"That's  bully.     How  much  did  you  make?" 

"  I  can't  tell  yet.  I  haven't  counted  up,"  said 
Paul. 

"  It's  better'n  sellin'  .papers,  I'll  bet.  I've  only 
made  thirty  cents  the  day.  Don't  you  want  to 
take  a  partner,  Johnny  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  think  I  do,"  said  Paul,  who  had 
good  reason  to  doubt  whether  such  a  step  would 
be  to  his  advantage. 

"  Then  I'll  go  in  for  myself,"  said  Teddy,  some- 
what displeased  st  the  refusal. 

"  Go  ahead !  There's  nobody  to  stop  you/* 
said  Paul. 


8  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  I'd  rather  go  in  with  you,"  said  Teddy,  feel- 
ing that  there  would  be  some  trouble  in  making 
the  prize  packages,  but  influenced  still  more  by 
the  knowledge  that  he  had  not  capital  enough  to 
start  in  the  business  alone. 

"  No,"  said  Paul  positively;  "  I  don't  want  any 
partner.  I  can  do  well  enough  alone." 

He  was  not  surprised  at  Teddy's  application. 
Street  boys  are  as  enterprising,  and  have  as  sharp 
eyes  for  business  as  their  elders,  and  no  one 
among  them  can  monopolize  a  profitable  business 
long.  This  is  especially  the  case  with  the  young 
street  merchant.  When  one  has  had  the  good  luck 
to  find  some  attractive  article  which  promises  to 
sell  briskly,  he  takes  every  care  to  hide  the  source 
of  his  supply  from  his  rivals  in  trade.  But  this 
is  almost  impossible.  Cases  are  frequent  where 
such  boys  are  subjected  to  the  closest  espionage, 
their  steps  being  dogged  for  hours  by  boys  who 
think  they  have  found  a  good  thing  and  are  de- 
termined to  share  it.  In  the  present  case  Paul 
had  hit  upon  an  idea  which  seemed  to  promise 
well,  and  he  was  determined  to  keep  it  to  himself 
as  long  as  possible.  As  soon  as  he  was  subjected 
to  competition  and  rivalry  his  gains  would  prob- 
ably diminish. 


CHAPTER   II 

PAUL    AT    HOME 

Paul  went  up  Center  Street  and  turned  into 
Pearl.  Stopping  before  a  tenement-house,  he 
entered,  and  going  up  two  flights  of  stairs,  opened 
a  door  and  entered. 

"  You  are  home  early,  Paul,"  said  a  woman  of 
middle  age,  looking  up  at  his  entrance. 

"  Yes,  mother;  I've  sold  out." 

"  You've  not  sold  out  the  whole  fifty  pack- 
ages ?  "  she  asked  in  surprise. 

"  Yes,  I  have.     I  had  capital  luck." 

"  Why,  you  must  have  made  as  much  as  a  dol- 
lar, and  it's  not  twelve  yet." 

"  I've  made  more  than  that,  mother.  Just  wait 
a  minute  till  I've  reckoned  up  a  little.  Where's 
Jimmy?" 

"  Miss  Beckwith  offered  to  take  him  out  to  walk 
with  her,  so  I  let  him  go.  He'll  be  back  at 
twelve." 

While  Paul  is  making  a  calculation,  a  few 
words  of  explanation  and  description  may  be 


io  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

given,  so  that  the  reader  may  understand  better 
how  he  is  situated. 

The  rooms  occupied  by  Paul  and  his  mother 
were  three  in  number.  The  largest  one  was  about 
fourteen  feet  square,  and  was  lighted  by  two  win- 
dows. It  was  covered  with  a  neat,  though  well- 
worn  carpet;  a  few  cane-bottomed  chairs  were 
ranged  at  the  windows,  and  on  each  side  of  the 
table.  There  was  a  French  clock  on  the  mantel, 
a  rocking  chair  for  his  mother,  and  a  few  inexpen- 
sive engravings  hung  upon  the  walls.  There  was 
a  hanging  bookcase  containing  two  shelves,  filled 
with  books,  partly  school  books,  supplemented 
by  a  few  miscellaneous  books,  such  as  "  Robinson 
Crusoe,"  "  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  a  volume  of 
"  Poetical  Selections,"  an  odd  volume  of  Scott, 
and  several  others.  Out  of  the  main  room  opened 
two  narrow  chambers,  both  together  of  about  the 
same  area  as  the  main  room.  One  of  these  was 
occupied  by  Paul  and  Jimmy,  the  other  by  his 
mother. 

Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  construction 
of  a  New  York  tenement-house  will  readily  under- 
stand the  appearance  of  the  rooms  into  which  we 
have  introduced  them.  It  must,  however,  be  ex- 
plained that  few  similar  apartments  are  found  so 
well  furnished.  Carpets  are  not  very  common  in 
tenement-houses,  and  if  there  are  any  pictures, 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  n 

they  are  usually  the  cheapest  prints.  Wooden 
chairs,  and  generally  every  object  of  the  cheapest, 
are  to  be  met  with  in  the  dwellings  of  the  New 
York  poor.  If  we  find  something  better  in  the 
present  instance,  it  is  not  because  Paul  and  his 
mother  are  any  better  off  than  their  neighbors. 
On  the  contrary,  there  are  few  whose  income  is 
so  small.  But  they  have  seen  better  days,  and  the 
furniture  we  see  has  been  saved  from  the  time  of 
their  comparative  prosperity. 

As  Paul  is  still  at  his  estimate,  let  us  improve 
the  opportunity  by  giving  a  little  of  their  early 
history. 

Mr.  Hoffman,  the  father  of  Paul,  was  born  in 
Germany,  but  came  to  New  York  when  a  boy  of 
twelve,  and  there  he  grew  up  and  married,  his 
wife  being  an  American.  He  was  a  cabinetmaker, 
and,  being  a  skillful  workman,  earned  very  good 
wages,  so  that  he  was  able  to  maintain  his  family 
in  comfort.  They  occupied  a  neat  little  cottage 
in  Harlem,  and  lived  very  happily,  for  Mr. 
Hoffman  was  temperate  and  kind,  when  an  unfor- 
tunate accident  clouded  their  happiness,  and 
brought  an  end  to  their  prosperity.  In  crossing 
Broadway  at  its  most  crowded  part,  the  husband 
and  father  was  run  over  by  a  loaded  dray,  and  so 
seriously  injured  that  he  lived  but  a  few  hours. 
Then  the  precarious  nature  of  their  prosperity  was 


12  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

found  out.  Mr.  Hoffman  had  not  saved  any- 
thing, having  always  lived  up  to  the  extent  of  his 
income.  It  was  obviously  impossible  for  them 
to  continue  to  live  in  their  old  home,  paying  a 
rent  of  twenty  dollars  per  month.  Besides, 
Paul  did  not  see  any  good  opportunity  to  earn 
his  living  in  Harlem.  So,  at  his  instigation,  his 
mother  moved  downtown,  and  took  rooms  in  a 
tenement-house  in  Pearl  Street,  agreeing  to  pay 
six  dollars  a  month  for  apartments  which  would 
now  command  double  the  price.  They  brought 
with  them  furniture  enough  to  furnish  the  three 
rooms,  selling  the  rest  for  what  it  would  bring, 
and  thus  obtaining  a  small  reserve  fund,  which 
by  this  time  was  nearly  exhausted. 

Once  fairly  established  in  their  new  home,  Paul 
went  out  into  the  streets  to  earn  his  living.  The 
two  most  obvious,  and,  on  the  whole,  most  profit- 
able trades,  were  blacking  boots  and  selling  news- 
papers. To  the  first  Paul,  who  was  a  neat  boy, 
objected  on  the  score  that  it  would  keep  his  hands 
and  clothing  dirty,  and,  street  boy  though  he  had 
become,  he  had  a  pride  in  his  personal  appear- 
ance. To  selling  papers  he  had  not  the  same 
objection,  but  he  had  a  natural  taste  for  trade, 
and  this  led  him  to  join  the  ranks  of  the  street 
peddlers.  He  began  with  vending  matches,  but 
found  so  much  competition  in  the  business,  and 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  13 

received  so  rough  a  reception  oftentimes  from 
those  who  had  repeated  calls  from  others  in  the 
same  business,  that  he  gave  it  up,  and  tried  some- 
thing else.  But  the  same  competition  which 
crowds  the  professions  and  the  higher  employ- 
ments followed  by  men,  prevails  among  the  street 
trades  which  are  pursued  by  boys.  If  Paul  had 
only  had  himself  to  support,  he  could  have  made 
a  fair  living  at  match  selling,  or  any  other  of  the 
employments  he  took  up;  but  his  mother  could  not 
earn  much  at  making  vests,  and  Jimmy  was  lame, 
and  could  do  nothing  to  fill  the  common  purse,  so. 
that  Paul  felt  that  his  earnings  must  be  the  main 
support  of  the  family,  and  naturally  sought  out 
what  would  bring  him  in  the  most  money. 

At  length  he  had  hit  upon  selling  prize  pack- 
ages, and  his  first  experience  in  that  line  is  re- 
corded in  the  previous  chapter.  Adding  only  that 
it  was  now  a  year  since  his  father's  death,  we 
resume  our  narrative. 

"Do  you  want  to  know  how  much  I've  made, 
mother?  "  asked  Paul,  looking  up  at  length  from 
his  calculation. 

"  Yes,  Paul." 

"  A  dollar  and  thirty  cents." 

"  I  did  not  think  it  would  amount  to  so  much. 
The  prizes  came  to  considerable,  didn't  they  ?  " 

"  Listen,  and  I  will  tell  you  how  I  stand : 


U  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

One  pound  of  candy .20 

Two  packs  of  envelopes 10 

Prizes 90 


That  makes $1.20 

I  sold  the  fifty  packages  at  five  cents  each,  and 
that  brought  me  in  two  dollars  and  a  half.  Tak- 
ing out  the  expenses,  it  leaves  me  a  dollar  and 
thirty  cents.  Isn't  that  doing  well  for  one  morn- 
ing's work  ?  " 

"  It's  excellent;  but  I  thought  your  prizes 
amounted  to  more  than  ninety  cents." 

"  So  they  did,  but  several  persons  who  bought 
wouldn't  take  their  prizes,  and  that  was  so  much 
gain." 

"  You  have  done  very  well,  Paul.  I  wish  you 
might  earn  as  much  every  day." 

"  I'm  going  to  earn  some  more  this  afternoon. 
I  bought  a  pound  of  candy  on  the  way  home,  and 
some  cheap  envelopes,  and  I'll  be  making  up  a 
new  stock  while  I  am  waiting  for  dinner." 

Paul  took  out  his  candy  and  envelopes,  and  set 
about  making  up  the  packages. 

"  Did  any  complain  of  the  small  amount  of 
candy  you  put  in  ?  " 

"A  few;  but  most  bought  for  the  sake  of  the 
prizes." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  be  a  little  more  liberal 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  i* 

with  your  candy,  and  then  there  may  not  be  so 
much  dissatisfaction  where  the  prize  is  only  a 
penny." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,  mother.  I 
believe  I'll  only  make  thirty  packages  with  this 
pound,  instead  of  fifty.  Thirty'll  be  all  I  can  sell 
this  afternoon." 

Just  then  the  door  opened,  and  Paul's  brother 
entered. 

Jimmy  Hoffman,  or  lame  Jimmy,  as  he  was 
often  called,  was  a  delicate-looking  boy  of  ten, 
with  a  fair  complexion  and  a  sweet  face,  but  in- 
curably lame,  a  defect  which,  added  to  his  delicate 
constitution,  was  likely  to  interfere  seriously  with 
his  success  in  life.  But,  as  frequently  Happens, 
Jimmy  was  all  the  more  endeared  to  his  mother 
and  brother  by  his  misfortune  and  bodily  weak- 
ness, and  if  either  were  obliged  to  suffer  from 
poverty,  Jimmy  would  be  spared  the  suffering. 

"  Well,  Jimmy,  have  you  had  a  pleasant  walk  ?  " 
asked  his  mother. 

"  Yes,  mother;  I  went  down  to  Fulton  Market. 
There's  a  good  deal  to  see  there." 

"  A  good  deal  more  than  in  this  dull  room, 
Jimmy." 

"  It  doesn't  seem  dull  to  me,  mother,  while 
you  are  here.  How  did  you  make  out  selling 
your  prize  packages  ?  " 


16  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  They  are  all  sold,  Jimmie,  every  one.  I  am 
making  some  more." 

"  Shan't  I  help  you?  " 

"  Yes,  I  would  like  to  have  you.  Just  take 
those  envelopes,  and  write  '  Prize  Package '  on 
every  one  of  them." 

"All  right,  Paul,"  and  Jimmy,  glad  to  be  of 
use,  got  the  pen  and  ink,  and,  gathering  up  the 
envelopes,  began  to  inscribe  them  as  he  had  been 
instructed. 

By  the  time  the  packages  were  made  up,  dinner 
was  ready.  It  was  not  a  very  luxurious  repast. 
There  was  a  small  piece  of  rump  steak — not  more 
than  three-quarters  of  a  pound — a  few  potatoes, 
a  loaf  of  bread,  and  a  small  plate  of  butter.  That 
was  all;  but  then  the  cloth  that  covered  the  table 
was  neat  and  clean,  and  the  knives  and  forks  were 
bright  as  new,  and  what  there  was  tasted 
good. 

"  What  have  you  been  doing  this  morning, 
Jimmy  ?  "  asked  Paul. 

"  I  have  been  drawing,  Paul.  Here's  a  picture 
of  Friday.  I  copied  it  from  '  Robinson  Crusoe.'  " 

He  showed  the  picture,  which  was  wonderfully 
like  that  in  the  book,  for  this — the  gift  of  drawing 
— was  Jimmy's  one  talent,  and  he  possessed  it  in 
no  common  degree. 

"  Excellent,  Jimmy !  "  said  Paul.     "  You're  a 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  17 

real  genius.  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  you'd 
make  an  artist  some  day." 

"  I  wish  I  might,"  said  Jimmy  earnestly. 
"  There's  nothing  I'd  like  better." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,  Jimmy.  If  I  do  well  this 
afternoon,  I'll  buy  you  a  drawing-book  and  some 
paper,  to  work  on  while  mother  and  I  are  busy." 

"  If  you  can  afford  it,  Paul,  I  should  like  it  so 
much.  Sometime  I  might  earn  something  that 
way." 

"  Of  course  you  may,"  said  Paul  cheerfully. 
"  I  won't  forget  you." 

Dinner  over,  Paul  went  out  to  business,  and 
was  again  successful,  getting  rid  of  his  thirty 
packages,  and  clearing  another  dollar.  Half  of 
this  he  invested  in  a  drawing-book,  a  pencil,  and 
some  drawing-paper  for  Jimmy.  Even  then  he 
had  left  of  his  earnings  for  the  day  one  dollar  and 
eighty  cents.  But  this  success  in  the  new  business 
had  already  excited  envy  and  competition,  as  he 
was  destined  to  find  out  on  the  morrow. 


CHAPTER  III 

PAUL    HAS    COMPETITORS 

The  next  morning  Paul  took  his  old  place  in 
front  of  the  post  office.  He  set  down  his  basket 
in  front,  and,  taking  one  of  the  packages  in  his 
hand,  called  out  in  a  businesslike  manner,  as  on 
the  day  before,  "  Here's  your  prize  packages ! 
Only  five  cents !  Money  prize  in  every  package ! 
.Walk  up,  gentlemen,  and  try  your  luck!  " 

He  met  with  a  fair  degree  of  success  at  first, 
managing  in  the  course  of  an  hour  to  sell  ten 
packages.  All  the  prizes  drawn  were  small,  with 
the  exception  of  one  ten-cent  prize,  which  was 
drawn  by  a  little  bootblack,  who  exclaimed : 

"  That's  the  way  to  do  business,  Johnny.  If 
you've  got  any  more  of  them  ten-cent  prizes,  I'll 
give  you  ten  cents  apiece  for  the  lot." 

"  Better  buy  some  more  and  see,"  said  Paul. 

"  That  don't  go  down,"  said  the  other.  "  May- 
be there'd  be  only  a  penny." 

Nevertheless,  the  effect  of  this  large  prize  was 
to  influence  the  sale  of  three  other  packages; 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  19 

'but  as  neither  of  these  contained  more  than  two- 
cent  prizes,  trade  began  to  grow  dull,  and  for 
ten  minutes  all  Paul's  eloquent  appeals  to  gentle- 
men to  walk  up  and  try  their  luck  produced  no 
effect. 

At  this  point  Paul  found  that  there  was  a  rival 
in  the  field. 

Teddy  O'Brien,  who  had  applied  for  a  partner- 
ship the  day  before,  came  up  with  a  basket  similar 
to  his  own,  apparently  filled  with  similar  packages. 
He  took  a  position  about  six  feet  distant  from 
Paul,  and  began  to  cry  out  in  a  shrill  voice : 

"  Here's  your  bully  prize  packages !  Best  in 
the  market !  Here's  where  you  get  your  big 
prizes,  fifty  cents  in  some  of  'em.  Walk  up,  boys, 
tumble  up,  and  take  your  pick  afore  they're  gone. 
Fifty  cents  for  five !  " 

"  That's  a  lie,  Teddy,"  said  Paul,  who  saw  that 
his  rival's  attractive  announcement  was  likely  to 
spoil  his  trade. 

"  No,  'tisn't,"  said  Teddy.  "  If  you  don't  be- 
lieve it,  just  buy  one  and  see." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,"  said  Paul,  "  I'll 
exchange." 

"  No,"  said  Teddy;  "  I  ain't  a-goin'  to  risk 
givin'  fifty  cents  for  one." 

"  More  likely  you'd  get  ten  for  one.  You're 
a  humbug." 


so  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Have  you  really  got  any  fifty-cent  prizes  ?  ** 
asked  a  newsboy,  who  had  sold  out  his  morning 
stock  of  papers,  and  was  lounging  about  the  post 
office  steps. 

"  Best  way  is  to  buy,  Johnny,"  said  Teddy. 

The  boy  did  buy,  but  his  prize  amounted  to 
only  one  cent. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  so?  "  said  Paul. 

"  Just  wait  a  while  and  see,"  said  Teddy.  "  The 
lucky  feller  hasn't  come  along.  Here,  Mike,  jest 
buy  a  package !  " 

Mike,  a  boy  of  fifteen,  produced  five  cents,  and 
said :  "  I  don't  mind  if  I  do." 

He  selected  a  package,  and  without  opening 
it,  slipped  it  into  his  pocket. 

"  Why  don't  you  open  it  ?  "  said  Teddy. 

"  What's  the  use?  "  said  Mike.  "  There  ain't 
no  fifty  cents  inside." 

However,  he  drew  it  out  of  his  pocket,  and 
opened  it. 

"  What's  this  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  pulling  out  a 
piece  of  script.  "  Howly  St.  Patrick !  it's  I  that's 
in  luck,  anyhow.  I've  got  the  fifty  cents !  " 

And  he  held  up  to  view  a  fifty-cent  scrip. 

"  Let  me  look  at  it,"  said  Paul  incredulously. 

But  there  was  no  room  for  doubt.  It  was  a 
genuine  fifty  cents,  as  Paul  was  compelled  to 
admit. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  21 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  so  ?  "  said  Teddy  triumph- 
antly. "  Here's  where  you  get  your  fifty-cent 
prizes." 

The  appeal  was  successful.  The  sight  of  the 
fifty-cent  prize  led  to  a  large  call  for  packages, 
of  which  Teddy  immediately  sold  ten,  while  Paul 
found  himself  completely  deserted.  None  of  the 
ten,  however,  contained  over  two  cents.  Still 
the  possibility  of  drawing  fifty  cents  kept  up  the 
courage  of  buyers,  while  Paul's  inducements  were 
so  far  inferior  that  he  found  himself  wholly  dis- 
tanced. 

"Don't  you  wish  you'd  gone  pardners  with 
me?"  asked  Teddy,  with  a  triumphant  grin, 
noticing  Paul's  look  of  discomfiture.  "  You 
can't  do  business  alongside  of  me." 

"  You  can't  make  any  money  giving  such  big 
prizes,"  said  Paul.  "  You  haven't  taken  in  as 
much  as  you've  given  yet." 

"  All  right,"  said  Teddy.  "  I'm  satisfied  if  you 
are.  Have  a  package,  Jim  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Jim.  "  Mind  you  give  me  a  good 
prize." 

The  package  was  bought,  and,  on  being  opened, 
proved  to  contain  fifty  cents  also,  to  Paul's  great 
amazement.  How  Teddy's  business  could  pay, 
as  it  was  managed,  he  could  not  comprehend. 
One  thing  was  certain,  however,  his  new  com- 


22  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

petitor  monopolized  the  trade,  and  for  two  hours 
Paul  did  not  get  a  solitary  customer. 

"  There's  something  about  this  I  don't  under- 
stand," he  pondered  thoughtfully.  "  He  must 
lose  money;  but  he's  spoiled  my  trade." 

Paul  did  not  like  to  give  up  the  beat,  but  he 
found  himself  compelled  to.  Accordingly  he 
took  his  basket,  and  moved  off  toward  Wall 
Street.  Here  he  was  able  to  start  in  business 
without  competitors,  and  succeeded  in  selling 
quite  a  number  of  packages,  until  a  boy  came  up 
and  said : 

"  There's  a  feller  up  at  the  post  office  that's 
givin'  fifty-cent  prizes.  I  got  one  of  'em  this 
mornin'." 

There  was  a  group  of  half-a-dozen  boys  around 
Paul,  two  of  whom  were  about  to  invest;  but  on 
hearing  this  they  changed  their  intention,  and 
walked  off  in  the  direction  of  the  post  office. 

Looking  up,  Paul  saw  that  the  boy  who  had 
injured  his  trade  was  Mike,  who  had  drawn  the 
first  fifty-cent  prize  from  his  competitor. 

"  Can't  you  stop  interfering?  "  he  said  angrily. 
"  I've  lost  two  customers  by  you." 

"  If  you  don't  like  it,  you  can  lump  it,"  said 
Mike  insolently.  "  This  is  a  free  country,  ain't 
it?" 

"  It's  a  mean  trick,"  said  Paul  indignantly. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  23 

"  Say  that  ag'in,  and  I'll  upset  your  basket/' 
returned  Mike. 

"  I'll  say  it  as  often  as  I  like,"  said  Paul,  who 
wasn't  troubled  by  cowardice.  "  Come  on,  if  you 
want  to." 

Mike  advanced  a  step,  doubling  his  fists;  but, 
finding  that  Paul  showed  no  particular  sign  of 
fear,  he  stopped  short,  saying :  "  I'll  lick  you  some 
other  time." 

"  You'd  better  put  it  off,"  said  Paul.  "  Have 
a  prize  package,  sir?  Only  five  cents!  " 

This  was  addressed  to  a  young  man  who  came 
out  of  an  insurance  office. 

"  I  don't  mind  if  I  do,"  said  the  young  man. 
"  Five  cents,  is  it  ?  What  prize  may  I  ex- 
pect ?  " 

"  The  highest  is  ten  cents." 

"  There's  a  boy  around  the  post  office  that  gives 
fifty-cent  prizes,  mister,"  said  Mike.  "  You'd 
better  buy  of  him." 

"  I'll  wait  till  another  time,"  said  the  young 
man.  "  Here's  the  money,  Johnny.  Now  for 
the  package." 

"  Look  here,"  said  Paul  indignantly,  when  his 
customer  had  gone  away;  "  haven't  you  anything 
to  do  except  to  drive  off  my  customers  ?  " 

"  Give  me  two  cents  on  every  package,"  said 
Mike,  "  and  I'll  tell  'em  you  give  dollar  prizes.'* 


24  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  That  would  be  a  lie,  and  I  don't  want  to  do 
business  that  way." 

Mike  continued  his  persecutions  a  while  longer, 
and  then  turned  the  corner  into  Nassau  Street. 

"  I'm  glad  he's  gone,"  thought  Paul.  "  Now 
there's  a  chance  for  me." 

He  managed  after  a  while  to  sell  twenty  of  his 
packages.  By  this  time  it  was  twelve  o'clock,  and 
he  began  to  feel  hungry.  He  resolved,  therefore, 
to  go  home  to  dinner  and  come  out  again  in  the 
afternoon.  He  didn't  know  how  much  he  had 
made,  but  probably  about  fifty  cents.  He  had 
made  more  than  double  as  much  the  day  before 
in  less  time;  but  then  he  did  not  suffer  from  com- 
petition. He  began  to  doubt  whether  he  could 
long  pursue  this  business,  since  other  competitors 
were  likely  to  spring  up. 

As  he  walked  by  the  post  office  he  had  the  curi- 
osity to  look  and  see  how  his  competitor  was  get- 
ting along. 

Teddy  had  started  originally  with  seventy-five 
packages;  but  of  those  scarcely  a  dozen  were 'left. 
A  group  of  boys  were  arou»d  him.  Among  them 
was  Mike,  who  was  just  on  the  point  of  buy- 
ing another  package.  As  before,  he  put  it  in 
his  pocket,  and  it  was  not  till  Teddy  asked,  "  What 
luck,  Mike  ?  "  that  he  drew  it  out,  and  opening  it 
again,  produced  fifty  cents. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  25 

"  It's  the  big  prize !  "  he  said.  "  Sure  I'm  in 
luck  anyhow." 

"  You're  the  boy  that's  lucky,"  said  Teddy,  with 
a  grin. 

As  Paul  witnessed  the  scene  a  light  broke  upon 
him.  Now  he  understood  how  Teddy  could 
afford  to  give  such  large  prizes.  Mike  and  the 
other  boy,  Jim,  were  only  confederates  of  his — 
decoy  ducks — who  kept  drawing  over  again  the 
same  prize,  which  was  eventually  given  back 
to  Teddy.  It  was  plain  now  why  Mike  put  the 
package  into  his  pocket  before  opening  it.  It  was 
to  exchange  it  for  another  packet  into  which  the 
money  had  previously  been  placed,  but  which  was 
supposed  by  the  lookers-on  to  be  the  same  that 
had  just  been  purchased.  The  prize  could  after- 
ward be  placed  in  a  new  packet  and  used  again. 

"  That  ain't  the  same  package,"  said  Paul, 
announcing  his  discovery.  "  He  had  it  all  the 
while  in  his  pocket." 

"  Look  here,"  blustered  Mike,  "  you  jest  mind 
your  own  business!  That's  the  best  thing  for 
you." 

"  Suppose  I  don't  ?  " 

"  If  you  don't,  there  may  be  a  funeral  to-mor- 
row of  a  boy  about  your  size." 

There  was  a  laugh  at  Paul's  expense,  but  he 
took  it  coolly. 


26  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  I'll  send  you  a  particular  invitation  to  attend, 
if  I  can  get  anybody  to  go  over  to  the  island." 

As  Mike  had  been  a  resident  at  Blackwell's 
Island  on  two  different  occasions,  this  produced  a 
laugh  at  his  expense,  in  the  midst  of  which  Paul 
walked  off. 


CHAPTER  IV 

TEDDY    GIVES    UP    BUSINESS 

"  Have  you  sold  all  your  packages,  Paul  ?  '* 
asked  Jimmy,  as  our  hero  entered  the  humble 
room,  where  the  table  was  already  spread  with  a 
simple  dinner. 

"  No,"  said  Paul,  "  I  only  sold  twenty.  I  be- 
gin to  think  that  the  prize-package  business  will 
soon  be  played  out." 

"Why?" 

"  There's  too  many  that'll  go  into  it." 

Here  Paul  related  his  experience  of  the  morn- 
ing, explaining  how  it  was  that  Teddy  had  man- 
aged to  distance  him  in  the  competition. 

"  Can't  you  do  the  same,  Paul  ?  "  asked  Jimmy. 
"  Mother's  got  a  gold  dollar  she  could  lend  you." 

"That  might  do,"  said  Paul;  "but  I  don't 
know  any  boy  I  could  trust  to  draw  it  except  you, 
and  some  of  them  would  know  we  were  brothers." 

"  I  think,  Paul,  that  would  be  dishonest,"  said 
Mrs.  Hoffman.  "  I  would  rather  make  less,  if  I 
were  you,  and  do  it  honestly." 


28  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Maybe  you're  right,  mother.  I'll  try  again 
this  afternoon,  keeping  as  far  away  from  Teddy 
as  I  can.  If  I  find  I  can't  make  it  go,  I'll  try  some 
other  business." 

"  Jimmy,  have  you  shown  Paul  your  drawing?  " 
said  his  mother. 

"  Here  it  is,  Paul,"  said  Jimmy,  producing  his 
drawing-book,  from  which  he  had  copied  a  simple 
design  of  a  rustic  cottage. 

"  Why,  that's  capital,  Jimmy,"  said  Paul,  in 
real  surprise.  "  I  had  no  idea  you  would  suc- 
ceed so  well." 

"  Do  you  really  think  so,  Paul?  "  asked  the  lit- 
tle boy,  much  pleased. 

"  I  really  do.     How  long  did  it  take  you?  " 

"  Only  a  short  time — not  more  than  half  aa 
hour,  I  should  think,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman.  "  I 
think  Jimmy  succeeded  very  well." 

"  You'll  make  a  great  artist  sometime,  Jimmy," 
said  Paul. 

"  I  wish  I  could,"  said  the  little  boy.  "  I  should 
like  to  earn  some  money,  so  that  you  and  mother 
need  not  work  so  hard." 

"  Hard  work  agrees  with  me.  I'm  tough/' 
*»aid  Paul.  "  But  when  we  get  to  be  men,  Jimmy, 
we'll  make  so  much  money  that  mother  needn't 
work  at  all.  She  shall  sit  in  the  parlor  all  day, 
dressed  in  silk,  with  nothing  to  do.w 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  29 

"  I  don't  think  I  would  enjoy  that,"  said  Mrs. 
Hoffman,  smiling. 

"  Will  you  be  in  the  candy  business,  then, 
Paul?  "  said  Jimmy. 

"  No,  Jimmy.  It  would  never  do  for  the 
brother  of  a  great  artist  to  be  selling  candy  round 
the  street.  I  hope  I  shall  have  something  better 
to  do  than  that." 

"  Sit  down  to  dinner,  Paul,"  said  his  mother. 
"  It's  all  ready." 

The  dinner  was  not  a  luxurious  one.  There 
was  a  small  plate  of  cold  meat,  some  potatoes, 
and  bread  and  butter;  but  Mrs.  Hoffman  felt  glad 
to  be  able  to  provide  even  that,  and  Paul,  who  had 
the  hardy  appetite  of  a  growing  boy,  did  full 
justice  to  the  fare.  They  had  scarcely  finished, 
when  a  knock  was  heard  at  the  door.  Paul,  an- 
swering the  summons,  admitted  a  stout,  pleasant- 
looking  Irishwoman. 

"  The  top  of  the  mornin'  to  ye,  Mrs.  Donovan," 
said  Paul,  bowing  ceremoniously. 

"  Ah,  ye'll  be  afther  havin'  your  joke,  Paul," 
said  Mrs.  Donovan  good-naturedly.  "  And  how 
is  your  health,  mum,  the  day?" 

"  I  am  well,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Donovan,"  said 
Mrs.  Hoffman.  "  Sit  down  to  the  table,  won't 
you?  We're  just  through  dinner,  but  there's 
something  left." 


30  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Thank  you,  mum,  I've  jist  taken  dinner.  I 
was  goin'  to  wash  this  afternoon,  and  I  thought 
maybe  you'd  have  some  little  pieces  I  could  wash 
jist  as  well  as  not." 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Donovan,  you  are  very 
kind;  but  you  must  have  enough  work  of  your 
own  to  do." 

"  I'm  stout  and  strong,  mum,  and  hard  work 
agrees  with  me;  but  you're  a  rale  lady,  and  ain't 
used  to  it.  It's  only  a  thrifle,  but  if  you  want  to 
pay  me,  you  could  do  a  bit  of  sewin'  for  me.  I 
ain't  very  good  with  the  needle.  My  fingers  is 
too  coarse,  belike." 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Donovan;  on  those  terms  I 
will  agree  to  your  kind  offer.  Washing  is  a 
little  hard  for  me." 

Mrs.  Hoffman  collected  a  few  pieces,  and, 
wrapping  them  up  in  a  handkerchief,  handed  them 
to  her  guest. 

"  And  now  what  have  you  been  doin',  Jimmy, 
darlint  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Donovan,  turning  her  broad, 
good-humored  face  toward  the  younger  boy. 

"  I've  been  drawing  a  picture,"  said  Jimmy. 
"  Would  you  like  to  see  it?  " 

"Now,  isn't  that  illigant?"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Donovan  admiringly,  taking  the  picture  and  gaz- 
ing at  it  with  rapt  admiration.  "  Who  showed 
you  how  to  do  it?" 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  31 

"  Paul  bought  me  a  book,  and  I  copied  it  out 
of  that" 

"  You're  a  rale  genius.  Maybe  you'll  make 
pictures  some  time  like  them  we  have  in  the 
church,  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  the  Saints.  Do 
you  think  you  could  draw  me,  now  ?  "  she  asked 
with  curiosity. 

"  I  haven't  got  a  piece  of  paper  big  enough,'* 
said  Jimmy  slyly. 

"  Ah,  it's  pokin'  fun  at  me,  ye  are,"  said  Mrs. 
Donovan  good-humoredly.  "  Just  like  my  Pat; 
he  run  into  the  room  yesterday  say  in',  *  Mother, 
there's  great  news.  Barnum's  fat  woman  is  dead, 
and  he's  comin'  afther  you  this  afternoon.  He'll 
pay  you  ten  dollars  a  week  and  board.'  '  Whist, 
ye  spalpeen!'  said  I;  'is  it  makin'  fun  of  your 
poor  mother  ye  are  ?  '  but  I  couldn't  help  laughin' 
at  the  impertinence  of  the  boy.  But  I  must  be 
goin'." 

"  Thank  you  for  your  kind  offer,  Mrs.  Dono- 
van. Jimmy  shall  go  to  your  room  for  the  sew- 
ing." 

"  There's  no  hurry  about  that,"  said  Mrs. 
Donovan.  "  I'll  jist  bring  it  in  meself  when  it's 
ready." 

"  She  is  very  kind,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman,  when 
Bridget  Donovan  had  gone.  "  I  shall  be  glad  to 
have  her  wash.  I  am  apt  to  feel  weak  after  it. 


32  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

What  are  you  going  to  do  this  afternoon, 
Paul?" 

"  I'll  try  to  sell  out  the  rest  of  my  stock  of 
packages.  Perhaps  I  shan't  succeed,  but  I'll  do 
my  best.  Shall  you  have  another  picture  to  show 
me  when  I  come  back  to-night,  Jimmy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Paul;  I  love  to  draw.  I'm  going  to  try 
this  castle." 

"  It's  rather  hard,  isn't  it?  " 

"  I  can  do  it,"  said  Jimmy  confidently. 

Paul  left  the  room  with  his  basket  on  his 
arm. 

He  was  drawn  by  curiosity  to  the  spot  where 
he  had  met  with  his  first  success,  as  well  as  his  first 
failure — the  front  of  the  post  office.  Here  he  be- 
came witness  to  an  unexpectedly  lively  scene;  in 
other  words,  a  fight,  in  which  Teddy  O'Brien  and 
his  confederate,  Mike,  were  the  contestants.  To 
explain  the  cause  of  the  quarrel,  it  must  be  stated 
that  it  related  to  a  division  of  the  profits  of  their 
scheming. 

Teddy  had  sold  out  his  last  package,  seventy- 
five  in  number.  For  these  he  had  received  five 
cents  apiece,  making  in  all  three  dollars  and 
seventy-five  cents,  of  which  all  but  a  dollar  and 
seventy-five  cents,  representing  the  value  of  the 
prizes  and  the  original  cost  of  the  packages  and 
their  contents,  was  profit.  Now,  according  to  the 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  33 

arrangement  entered  into  between  him  and  Mike, 
the  latter,  for  his  services,  was  to  receive  one  cent 
on  every  package  sold.  This,  however,  seemed  to 
Teddy  too  much  to  pay,  so,  when  the  time  of 
reckoning  came,  he  stoutly  asseverated  that  there 
were  but  sixty  packages. 

"  That  don't  go  down,"  said  Mike  indignantly; 
"it's  nearer  a  hundred." 

"  No,  it  isn't.  It's  only  sixty.  You've  got  the 
fifty  cents,  and  I'll  give  you  ten  more." 

"  You  must  give  me  the  whole  sixty,  then," 
said  Mike,  changing  his  ground.  *'  I  drawed  the 
fifty  as  a  prize." 

Teddy  was  struck  with  astonishment  at  the  im- 
pudence of  this  assumption. 

"  It  wasn't  no  prize,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,  it  was,"  said  Mike.  "  You  said  so  your- 
self. Didn't  he,  Jim  ?  " 

Jim,  who  was  also  a  confederate,  but  had  agreed 
to  accept  twenty-five  cents  in  full  for  services 
rendered,  promptly  answered : 

"  Shure,  Mike's  right.  It  was  a  prize  he 
drew." 

"  You  want  to  chate  me,"  said  Teddy  an- 
grily. 

"  What  have  you  been  doin'  all  the  mornin'  ?  " 
demanded  Mike.  "  You're  the  chap  to  talk  about 
chatin',  ain't  you  ?  " 


34  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  I'll  give  you  twenty-five  cents,"  said  Teddy, 
"  and  that's  all  I  will  give  you." 

"  Then  you've  got  to  fight,"  said  Mike,  squar- 
ing off. 

"  Yes,  you've  got  to  fight !  "  chimed  in  Jim, 
who  thought  he  saw  a  chance  for  more  money  for 
himself  also. 

Teddy  looked  at  his  two  enemies,  each  of  whom 
was  probably  more  than  a  match  for  himself,  and 
was  not  long  in  deciding  that,  his  best  course  was 
to  avoid  a  fight  by  running.  Accordingly,  he 
tucked  all  the  money  into  his  pocket,  and,  turn- 
ing incontinently,  fled  down  Liberty  Street, 
closely  pursued  by  his  late  confederates.  Paul 
came  up  just  in  time  to  hear  the  termination  of 
the  dispute  and  watch  the  flight  of  his  late  busi- 
ness rival. 

"I  guess  Teddy  won't  go  into  the  business 
again,"  he  reflected.  "  I  may  as  well  take  my 
old  stand." 

Accordingly  he  once  more  installed  himself  on 
the  post  office  steps,  and  began  to  cry,  "  Prize 
packages.  Only  five  cents !  " 

Having  no  competitor  now  to  interfere  with 
his  trade,  he  met  with  fair  success,  and  by  four 
o'clock  was  able  to  start  for  home  with  his 
empty  basket,  having  disposed  of  all  his  stock 
in  trade. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  35 

His  profits,  while  they  were  not  so  great  as 
on  the  day  before,  nevertheless  amounted  to  a 
dollar. 

"  If  I  could  only  make  a  dollar  every  day," 
thought  Paul,  "  I  would  be  satisfied." 


CHAPTER  V 

PAUL   LOSES    HIS    BASKET 

Paul  continued  in  the  prize-package  business 
for  three  weeks.  His  success  varied,  but  he  never 
made  less  than  seventy-five  cents  a  day,  and  some- 
times as  much  as  a  dollar  and  a  quarter.  He  was 
not  without  competitors.  More  than  once,  on 
reaching  his  accustomed  stand,  he  found  a  rival 
occupying  it  before  him.  In  such  cases  he  quietly 
passed  on,  and  set  up  his  business  elsewhere,  pre- 
ferring to  monopolize  the  trade,  though  the  loca- 
tion might  not  be  so  good. 

Teddy  O'Brien  did  not  again  enter  the  field. 
We  left  him  at  the  end  of  the  last  chapter  trying 
to  escape  from  Mike  and  Jim,  who  demanded  a 
larger  sum  than  he  was  willing  to  pay  for  their 
services.  He  succeeded  in  escaping  with  his 
money,  but  the  next  day  the  two  confederates 
caught  him,  and  Teddy  received  a  black  eye  as  a 
receipt  in  full  of  all  demands.  So,  on  the  whole, 
he  decided  that  some  other  business  would  suit 
him  better,  and  resumed  the  blacking-box,  which 
36 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  37 

he  had  abandoned  on  embarking  in  commercial 
pursuits. 

Mike  Donovan  and  Jim  Parker  were  two  noto- 
riously bad  boys,  preferring  to  make  a  living  in 
any  other  way  than  by  honest  industry.  As  some 
of  these  ways  were  not  regarded  as  honest  in  the 
sight  of  the  law,  each  had  more  than  once  been 
sentenced  to  a  term  at  Blackwell's  Island.  They 
made  a  proposition  to  Paul  to  act  as  decoy  ducks 
for  him  in  the  same  way  as  for  Teddy.  He  liked 
neither  of  the  boys,  and  did  not  ca^e  to  be  asso- 
ciated with  them.  This  refusal  Mike  and  Jim  re- 
sented, and  determined  to  "  pay  off  "  Paul  if  they 
ever  got  a  chance.  Our  hero  from  time  to  time 
saw  them  hovering  about  him,  but  took  very  little 
notice  of  them.  He  knew  that  he  was  a  match  for 
either,  though  Mike  exceeded  him  in  size,  and  he 
felt  quite  capable  of  taking  care  of  himself. 

One  day  Mike  and  Jim,  whose  kindred  tastes 
led  them  to  keep  company,  met  at  the  corner  of 
Liberty  and  William  Streets.  Mike  looked  un- 
usually dilapidated.  He  had  had  a  scuffle  the  day 
before  with  another  boy,  and  his  clothes,  always 
well  ventilated,  got  torn  in  several  extra  places. 
As  it  was  very  uncertain  when  he  would  be  in  a 
financial  condition  to  provide  himself  with  an- 
other suit,  the  prospect  was  rather  alarming.  Jim 
Parker  looked  a  shade  more  respectable  in  attire, 


38  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

but  his  face  and  hands  were  streaked  with  black- 
ing. To  this,  however,  Jim  had  become  so  accus- 
tomed that  he  would  probably  have  felt  uncom- 
fortable with  a  clean  face. 

"  How  are  you  off  for  stamps,  Jim  ?  "  asked 
Mike. 

"  Dead  broke/'  was  the  reply. 

"  So  am  I.     I  ain't  had  no  breakfast." 

"Nor  I,  'cept  an  apple.  Couldn't  I  eat, 
though  ?  " 

"Suppose  we  borrow  a  quarter  from  Paul 
Hoffman." 

"  He  wouldn't  lend  a  feller." 

"  Not  if  he  knowed  it,"  said  Mike  significantly. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Mike  ?  "  asked  Jim,  with 
seme  curiosity. 

"  We'll  borrow  without  leave." 

"How'll  we  do  it?" 

"  I'll  tell  you,"  said  Mike. 

He  proceeded  to  unfold  his  plan,  which  was 
briefly  this.  The  two  were  to  saunter  up  to  where 
Paul  was  standing,  and  remain  until  the  group, 
if  there  were  any  around  him,  should  be  dispersed. 
Then  one  was  to  pull,  his  hat  over  his  eyes,  while 
the  other  would  snatch  the  basket  containing  his 
prize  packages,  and  run  down  Liberty  Street, 
never  stopping  until  he  landed  in  a  certain  alley 
known  to  both  boys.  The  other  would  run  in  a 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  39 

different  direction,  and  both  would  meet  as  soon 
as  practicable  for  the  division  of  the  spoils.  It 
was  yet  so  early  that  Paul  could  not  have  sold 
many  from  his  stock.  As  each  contained  a  prize 
varying  from  one  penny?to  ten,  they  would  prob- 
ably realize  enough  to  buy  a  good  breakfast,  be- 
sides the  candy  contained  in  the  packages.  More 
money  might  be  obtained  by  selling  packages,  but 
there  was  risk  in  this.  Besides,  it  would  take 
time,  and  they  decided  that  a  bird  in  hand  was 
worth  two  in  a  bush. 

"  That's  a  good  idea,"  said  Jim  approvingly. 
"Who'll  knock  his  hat  over  his  head?" 

"  You  can,"  said  Mike,  "  and  I'll  grab  the  bas- 
ket." But  to  this  Jim  demurred,  for  two  reasons : 
first,  he  was  rather  afraid  of  Paul,  whose  strength 
of  arm  he  had  tested  on  a  previous  occasion ;  and, 
again,  he  was  afraid  that  if  Mike  got  off  with  the 
basket,  he  would  appropriate  the  lion's  share. 

"  I'll  grab  the  basket,"  he  said. 

"  What  for  ?  "  said  Mike  suspiciously,  for  he, 
too,  felt  some  distrust  of  his  confederate. 

"You're  stronger'n  I  am,  tytike,"  said  Jim. 
"  Maybe  he'd  turn  on  me,  and  I  can't  fight  him  as 
well  as  you." 

"  That's  so,"  said  Mike,  who  had  rather  a  high 
idea  of  his  own  prowess,  and  felt  pleased  with 
the  compliment.  "  I'm  a  match  for  him." 


40  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Of  course  you  be,"  said  Jim  artfully,  "  and  he 
knows  it." 

"  Of  course  he  does,"  said  Mike  boastfully. 
"  I  can  lick  him  with  one  hand." 

Jim  had  serious  doubts  of  this,  but  he  had  his 
reasons  for  concurring  in  Mike's  estimate  of  his 
own  powers. 

"We'd  better  start  now,"  said  Jim.  "  I'm 
awful  hungry." 

"  Come  along,  then." 

They  walked  up  Liberty  Street,  as  far  as  Nassau. 
On  reaching  the  corner  they  saw  their  uncon- 
scious victim  at  his  usual  place.  It  was  rather  a 
public  place  for  an  assault,  and  both  boys  would 
have  hesitated  had  they  not  been  incited  by  a 
double  motive — the  desire  of  gain  and  a  feeling 
of  hostility. 

They  sauntered  along,  and  Mike  pressed  ia 
close  by  Paul. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  asked  Paul. 

"  What's  that  to  you  ?  "  demanded  Mike. 

"  Quit  crowdin'  me." 

"  I  ain't  crowdin'.  I've  got  as  much  right  to 
be  here  as  you." 

"  Here's  your  prize  packages ! "  exclaimed  Paul, 
in  a  businesslike  tone. 

"  Maybe  I'll  buy  one  if  you'll  give  me  credit 
till  to-morrow,"  said  Mike. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  41 

"  Your  credit  isn't  good  with  me,"  said  Paul. 
"  You  must  pay  cash  down." 

"  Then  you  won't  trust  me  ?  "  said  Mike,  press- 
ing a  little  closer. 

"  No,  I  won't,"  said  Paul  decidedly. 

"  Then,  take  that,  you  spalpeen ! "  said  Mike, 
suddenly  pulling  Paul's  hat  over  his  eyes. 

At  the  same  time  Jim,  to  whom  he  had  tipped 
a  wink,  snatched  the  basket,  which  Paul  held 
loosely  in  his  hand,  and  disappeared  round  the 
corner. 

The  attack  was  so  sudden  and  unexpected  that 
Paul  was  at  first  bewildered.  But  he  quickly  re- 
covered his  presence  of  mind,  and  saw  into  the 
trick.  He  raised  his  hat,  and  darted  in  pursuit 
of  Mike,  not  knowing  in  what  direction  his  basket 
had  gone. 

"  That's  a  mean  trick ! "  he  exclaimed  indig- 
nantly. "  Give  me  back  my  basket,  you 
thief!" 

"  I  ain't  got  no  basket,"  said  Mike,  facing 
round. 

"  Then  you  know  where  it  is." 

"  I  don't  know  nothin'  of  your  basket." 

"  You  pulled  my  hat  over  my  eyes  on  purpose 
to  steal  my  basket." 

"  No,  I  didn't.  You  insulted  me,  that's  why 
I  did  it" 


42  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Tell  me  where  my  basket  it,  or  I'll  lick  you," 
said  Paul,  incensed. 

"  I  ain't  nothin'  to  do  with  your  basket." 

"  Take  that,  then,  for  pulling  my  hat  over  my 
eyes,"  and  Paul,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word, 
dealt  Mike  a  staggering  blow  in  the  face. 

"  I'll  murder  you !  "  shouted  Mike  furiously, 
dashing  at  Paul  with  a  blow  which  might  have 
leveled  him,  if  he  had  not  fended  it  off. 

Paul  was  not  quarrelsome,  but  he  knew  how  to 
fight,  and  he  was  prepared  now  to  fight  in  earnest, 
indignant  as  he  was  at  the  robbery  which  entailed 
upon  him  a  loss  he  could  ill  sustain. 

"  I'll  give  you  all  you  want,"  he  said  resolutely, 
eying  Mike  warily,  and  watching  a  chance  to  give 
him  another  blow. 

The  contest  was  brief,  being  terminated  by  the 
sudden  and  unwelcome  arrival  of  a  policeman. 

"  What's  this  ?  "  he  asked  authoritatively,  sur- 
veying the  combatants;  Paul,  with  his  flushed 
face,  and  Mike,  whose  nose  was  bleeding  freely 
from  a  successful  blow  of  his  adversary. 

"  He  pitched  into  me  for  nothin',"  said  Mike, 
glaring  at  Paul,  and  rubbing  his  bloody  nose  on 
the  sleeve  of  his  ragged  coat. 

"  That  isn't  true,"  said  Paul  excitedly.  "  He 
came  up  while  I  was  selling  prize  packages  of 
candy  in  front  of  the  post  office,  and  pulled  my  hat 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  43 

over  my  eyes,  while  another  boy  grabbed  my 
basket." 

"  You  lie !  "  said  Mike.  "  I  don't  know  nothin' 
of  your  basket." 

"  Why  did  you  pull  his  hat  over  his  eyes  ?  " 
asked  the  policeman. 

"  Because  he  insulted  me." 

"  How  did  he  insult  you  ?  " 

"  He  wouldn't  trust  me  till  to-morrow." 

"  I  don't  blame  him  much  for  that,"  said  the 
policeman,  who  was  aware  of  Mike's  shady  repu- 
tation, having  on  a  former  occasion  been  under 
the  necessity  of  arresting  him.  Even  without 
such  acquaintance,  Mike's  general  appearance 
would  hardly  have  recommended  him  to  Officer 
Jones. 

"  I'll  let  you  go  this  time,"  he  said,  "  but  if  I 
catch  you  fighting  again  on  my  beat  I'll  march 
you  off  to  the  station-house." 

Mike  was  glad  to  escape,  though  he  would  al- 
most have  been  willing  to  be  arrested  if  Paul  could 
have  been  arrested  also. 

The  officer  walked  away,  and  Mike  started 
down  the  street. 

Paul  followed  him. 

That  didn't  suit  Mike's  ideas,  as  he  was  anxi- 
ous to  meet  Jim  and  divide  the  spoils  with 
him. 


44  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"What  are  you  follerin'  me  for?"  he  de- 
manded angrily. 

"  I  have  my  reasons,"  said  Paul. 

"  Then  you'd  better  stay  where  you  are.  Your 
company  ain't  wanted." 

"  I  know  that,"  said  Paul,  "  but  I'm  going  to 
follow  you  till  I  find  my  basket." 

"  What  do  I  know  of  your  basket?  " 

"  That's  what  I  want  to  find  out." 

Mike  saw,  by  Paul's  resolute  tone,  that  he 
meant  what  he  said.  Desirous  of  shaking  him 
off,  he  started  on  a  run. 


.       CHAPTER  VI 

PAUL    AS    AN    ARTIST 

Paul  was  not  slow  in  following  Mike.  He  was 
a  good  runner,  and  would  have  had  no  difficulty 
in  keeping  up  with  his  enemy  if  the  streets  had 
been  empty.  But  to  thread  his  way  in  and  out 
among  the  numerous  foot  passengers  that 
thronged  the  sidewalks  was  not  so  easy.  He  kept 
up  pretty  well,  however,  until,  in  turning  a  street 
corner,  he  ran  at  full  speed  into  a  very  stout  gen- 
tleman, whose  scanty  wind  was  quite  knocked  out 
of  him  by  the  collision.  He  glared  in  anger  at 
Paul,  but  could  not  at  first  obtain  breath  enough 
to  speak. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  Paul,  who,  in 
spite  of  his  desire  to  overtake  Mike,  felt  it  incum- 
bent upon  him  to  stop  and  offer  an  apology. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir,"  exploded  the  fat 
man,  at  last,  "  by  tearing  through  the  streets  like 
a  locomotive?  You've  nearly  killed  me." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  sir." 

"You  ought  to  be.     Don't  you  know  better 


46  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

than  to  run  at  such  speed?  You  ought  to  be 
indicted  as  a  public  nuisance." 

"  I  was  trying  to  catch  a  thief,"  said  Paul. 

"Trying  to  catch  a  tl.ief?  How's  that?" 
asked  the  stout  gentleman,  his  indignation  giving 
way  to  curiosity. 

"  I  was  selling  packages  in  front  of  the  post 
office  when  he  and  another  boy  came  up  and  stole 
my  basket." 

"  Indeed !    What  were  you  selling?  " 

"  Prize  packages,  sir." 

"  What  was  in  them? " 

"  Candy." 

"  Could  you  make  much  that  way?  " 

"  About  a  dollar  a  day." 

"  I'd  rather  have  given  you  a  dollar  than  had 
you  run  against  me  with  such  violence.  I  feel  it 

yet." 

"  Indeed,  sir,  I'm  very  sorry." 

"Well,  I'll  forgive  you  under  the  circum- 
stances. What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  Paul  Hoffman." 

"Well,  I  hope  you'll  get  back  your  basket. 
Sometime,  if  you  see  me  in  the  street,  come  up  and 
let  me  know.  Would  you  know  me  again  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  should,  sir." 

"  Well,  good-morning.  I  hope  you'll  catch  the 
thief." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  47 

"  I  thank  you,  sir." 

They  parted  company,  but  Paul  did  not  con- 
tinue the  pursuit.  The  conversation  in  which  he 
had  taken  part  had  lasted  so  long  that  Mike  had 
had  plenty  of  time  to  find  a  refuge,  and  there 
would  be  no  use  in  following  him. 

So  Paul  went  home. 

"  You  are  home  early,  Paul,"  said  his  mother. 
"  Surely  you  haven't  sold  out  by  this  time." 

"  No,  but  all  my  packages  are  gone." 

"How  is  that?" 

"  They  were  stolen." 

"  Tell  me  about  it." 

So  Paul  told  the  story. 

"  That  Mike  was  awful  mean,"  said  Jimmy  in- 
dignantly. "  I'd  like  to  hit  him." 

"  I  don't  think  you  would  hurt  him  much, 
Jimmy,"  said  Paul,  amused  at  his  little  brother's 
vehemence. 

"  Then  I  wish  I  was  a  big,  strong  boy,"  said 
Jimmy. 

"  I  hope  you  will  be,  sometime." 

"  How  much  was  your  loss,  Paul  ?  "  asked  his 
mother. 

"  There  were  nearly  forty  packages.  They 
cost  me  about  a  dollar,  but  if  I  had  sold  them  all 
they  would  have  brought  me  in  twice  as  much.  I 
had  only  sold  ten  packages." 


48  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

Shall  you  make  some  more  ?  " 

"  No,  I  think  not,"  said  Paul.  "  I've  got  tired 
of  the  business.  It's  getting  poorer  every  day. 
I'll  go  out  after  dinner,  and  see  if  I  can't  find 
something  else  to  do." 

"  You  ain't  going  out  now,  Paul  ?  "  said  Jimmy. 

"  No,  I'll  stop  and  see  you  draw  a  little  while." 

"  That's  bully.     I'm  going  to  try  these  oxen." 

"  That's  a  hard  picture.  I  don't  think  you  can 
draw  it,  Jimmy." 

"  Yes,  I  can,"  said  the  little  boy  confidently. 
"  Just  see  if  I  don't." 

"  Jimmy  has  improved  a  good  deal,"  said  his 
mother. 

"You'll  be  a  great  artist  one  of  these  days, 
Jimmy,"  said  Paul. 

"  I'm  going  to  try,  Paul,"  said  the  little  boy. 
"  I  like  it  so  much." 

Little  Jimmy  had  indeed  made  surprising  pro- 
gress in  drawing.  With  no  instruction  whatever, 
he  had  succeeded  in  a  very  close  and  accurate  imi- 
tation of  the  sketches  in  the  drawing-books  Paul 
had  purchased  for  him.  It  was  a  great  delight 
to  the  little  boy  to  draw,  and  hour  after  hour,  as 
his  mother  sat  at  her  work,  he  sat  up  to  the  table, 
and  worked  at  his  drawing,  scarcely  speaking  a 
word  unless  spoken  to,  so  absorbed  was  he  in  his 
fascinating  employment. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  49 

Paul  watched  him  attentively. 

"  You'll  make  a  bully  artist,  Jimmy,"  he  said* 
at  length,  really  surprised  at  his  little  brother's 
proficiency.  "  If  you  keep  on  a  little  longer, 
you'll  beat  me." 

"  I  wish  you'd  draw  something,  Paul,"  said 
Jimmy.  "  I  never  saw  any  of  your  drawings." 

"  I  am  afraid,  if  you  saw  mine,  it  would  dis- 
courage you,"  said  Paul.  "  You  know,  I'm  older 
and  ought  to  draw  better." 

His  face  was  serious,  but  there  was  a  merry 
twinkle  of  fun  in  his  eyes. 

"  Of  course,  I  know  you  draw  better,"  said 
Jimmy  seriously. 

"  What  shall  I  draw?  "  asked  Paul. 

"  Try  this  horse,  Paul." 

"  All  right !  "  said  Paul.  "  But  you  must  go 
away;  I  don't  want  you  to  see  it  till  it  is 
done/' 

Jimmy  left  the  table,  and  Paul  commenced  his 
attempt.  Now,  though  Paul  is  the  hero  of  my 
story,  I  am  bound  to  confess  that  he  had  not  the 
slightest  talent  for  drawing,  though  Jimmy  did 
not  know  it.  It  was  only  to  afford  his  little 
brother  amusement  that  he  now  undertook  the 
task. 

Paul  worked  away  for  about  five  minutes. 

"  It's  done,"  he  said. 


50  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"So  quick?"  exclaimed  Jimmy,  in  surprise; 
"  How  fast  you  work !  " 

He  drew  near  and  inspected  Paul's  drawing. 
He  had  no  sooner  inspected  it  than  he  burst  into 
a  fit  of  laughter.  Paul's  drawing  was  a  very 
rough  one,  and  such  a  horse  as  he  had  drawn  will 
never  probably  be  seen  until  the  race  has  greatly 
degenerated. 

"What's  the  matter,  Jimmy?"  asked  PauL 
"  Don't  you  like  it  ?  " 

"  It's  awful,  Paul,"  said  the  little  boy,  almost 
choking  with  mirth. 

"  I  see  how  it  is,"  said  Paul,  with  feigned  re- 
sentment. "  You're  jealous  of  me  because  you 
can't  draw  as  well." 

"  Oh,  Paul,  you'll  kill  me !  "  and  Jimmy  again 
burst  into  a  fit  of  merriment.  "  Can't  you  really 
'draw  any  better  ?  " 

"  No,  Jimmy,"  said  Paul,  joining  in  the  laugh. 
"  I  can't  draw  any  better  than  an  old  cow.  You've 
got  all  the  talent  in  the  family  in  that  line." 

"  But  you're  smart  in  other  ways,  Paul,"  said 
Jimmy,  who  had  a  great  admiration  of  Paul,  not- 
withstanding the  discovery  of  his  artistic  inferior- 
ity. 

"  I'm  glad  there's  one  that  thinks  so,  Jimmy," 
said  Paul.  "  I'll  refer  to  you  when  I  want  a 
recommendation." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  5* 

Jimmy  resumed  his  drawing,  and  was  proud 
of  the  praises  which  Pau!  freely  bestowed  upon 
him. 

"  I'll  get  you  a  harder  drawing-book  when 
you're  through  with  these,"  said  Paul ;  "  that  is, 
if  I  don't  get  reduced  to  poverty  by  having  my 
stock  in  trade  stolen  again." 

After  a  while  came  dinner.  This  meal  in  Mrs. 
Hoffman's  household  usually  came  at  twelve 
o'clock.  It  was  a  plain,  frugal  meal  always,  but 
on  Sunday  they  usually  managed  to  have  some- 
thing a  little  better,  as  they  had  been  accustomed 
to  do  when  Mr.  Hoffman  was  alive. 

Paul  was  soon  through. 

He  took  his  hat  from  the  bureau,  and  prepared 
to  go  out. 

"  I'm  going  out  to  try  my  luck,  mother,"  he 
said.  "  I'll  see  if  I  can't  get  into  something  I 
•like  a  little  better  than  the  prize-package  busi- 
ness." 

"  I  hope  you'll  succeed,  Paul." 

"  Better  than  I  did  in  drawing  horses,  eh, 
Jimmy?  " 

"  Yes,  I  hope  so,  Paul,"  said  the  little  boy. 

"  Don't  you  show  that  horse  to  visitors  and 
pretend  it's  yours,  Jimmy." 

"  No  danger,  Paul." 

Paul  went  downstairs  and  into  the  street.    He 


52  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

had  no  definite  plan  in  his  head,  but  was  ready  for 
anything  that  might  turn  up.  He  did  not  feel 
anxious,  for  he  knew  there  were  plenty  of  ways  in 
which  he  could  earn  something.  He  had  never 
tried  blacking  boots,  but  still  he  could  do  it  in 
case  of  emergency.  He  had  sold  papers,  and  suc- 
ceeded fairly  in  that  line,  and  knew  he  could  again. 
He  had  pitted  himself  against  other  boys,  and 
the  result  had  been  to  give  him  a  certain  con- 
fidence in  his  own  powers  and  business  abilities. 
When  he  had  first  gone  into  the  street  to  try  his 
chances  there,  it  had  been  with  a  degree  of  diffi- 
dence. But  knocking  about  the  streets  soon  gives 
a  boy  confidence,  sometimes  too  much  of  it,  and 
Paul  had  learned  to  rely  upon  himself;  but  the 
influence  of  a  good,  though  humble  home,  and  a 
judicious  mother,  had  kept  him  aloof  from  the 
bad  habits  into  which  many  street  boys  are  led. 

So  Paul,  though  his  stock  in  trade  had  been 
stolen,  and  he  was  obliged  to  seek  a  new  kind  of 
business,  was  by  no  means  disheartened.  He 
walked  a  little  way  downtown,  and  then,  crossing 
the  City  Hall  Park,  found  himself  on  Broad- 
way. 

A  little  below  the  Astor  House  he  came  to  the 
stand  of  a  sidewalk-merchant,  who  dealt  in  neck- 
ties. Upon  an  upright  framework  hung  a  great 
variety  of  ties  of  different  colors,  most  of  which 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  53 

were  sold  at  the  uniform  price  of  twenty-five  cents 
each. 

Paul  was  acquainted  with  the  proprietor  of  the 
stand,  and,  having  nothing  else  to  do,  determined 
to  stop  and  speak  to  him. 


CHAPTER  VII 

IN    A    NEW    BUSINESS 

The  proprietor  of  the  necktie  stand  was  a 
slender,  dark-complexioned  young  man  of  about 
twenty-five  or  thereabouts.  His  name  was  George 
Barry.  Paul  had  known  him  for  over  a  year,  and 
whenever  he  passed  his  stand  was  accustomed  to 
stop  and  speak  with  him. 

"  Well,  George,  how's  business  ?  "  asked  Paul. 

"  Fair,"  said  Barry.  "  That  isn't  what's  the 
matter." 

"What  is  it,  then?" 

"  I'm  sick.     I  ought  not  to  be  out  here  to-day." 

"What's  the  matter  with  you?" 

"  I've  caught  a  bad  cold,  and  feel  hot  and  fever- 
ish. I  ought  to  be  at  home  and  abed." 

"  Why  don't  you  go  ?  " 

"I  can't  leave  my  business." 

"  It's  better  to  do  that  than  to  get  a  bad  sick- 
ness." 

"  I  suppose  it  is.  I  am  afraid  I  am  going  to 
have  a  fever.  One  minute  I'm  hot,  another  I'm 
cold.  But  I  can't  afford  to  close  my  business."" 

54 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  55 

w  Why  don't  yon  get  somebody  to  take  your 
place?  " 

"  I  don't  know  anybody  I  could  get  that  I 
could  trust.  They'd  sell  my  goods,  and  make 
off  with  the  money." 

'"  Can  you  trust  me?  "  asked  Paul,  who  saw  a 
•chance  to  benefit  himself  as  well  as  his  friend. 

"  Yes,  Paul,  I  could  trust  you,  but  I'm  afraid 
I  couldn't  pay  you  enough  to  make  it  worth  while 
for  you  to  stand  here." 

"  I  haven't  got  anything  to  do  just  now,"  said 
Paul.  "  I  was  in  the  prize-package  business,  but 
two  fellows  stole  my  stock  in  trade,  and  I'm  not 
going  into  it  again.  It's  about  played  out.  I'm 
your  man.  Just  make  me  an  offer." 

"  I  should  like  to  have  you  take  my  place  for 
a  day  or  two,  for  I  know  you  wouldn't  cheat  me." 

"  You  may  be  sure  of  that." 

"  I  am  sure.  I  know  you  are  an  honest  boy, 
Paul.  But  I  don't  know  what  to  offer  you." 

"  How  many  neckties  do  you  sell  a  day?  "  asked 
Paul,  in  a  businesslike  tone. 

"  About  a  dozen  on  an  average." 

"  And  how  much  profit  do  you  make  ?  " 

"  It's  half  profit." 

Paul  made  a  short  calculation.  Twelve  neck- 
ties at  twenty-five  cents  each  would  bring  three 
dollars.  Half  of  this  was  a  dollar  and  a  half. 


56  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"I'll  take  your  place  for  half  profits,"  he 
said. 

"  That's  fair,"  said  George  Barry.  "  I'll  accept 
your  offer.  Can  you  begin  now?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  I'll  go  home  and  go  to  bed.  It's  the 
best  place  for  me." 

"  You'd  better.  I'll  come  round  after  closing 
up,  and  hand  over  the  money." 

"  All  right !     You  know  where  I  live? " 

"  I'm  not  sure." 

"  No.—  Bleecker  Street." 

*'  I'll  come  up  this  evening." 

George  Barry  walked  away,  leaving  Paul  in 
charge  of  his  business.  He  did  so  with  perfect 
confidence.  Not  every  boy  in  Paul's  circum- 
stances can  be  trusted,  but  he  felt  sure  that  Paul 
would  do  the  right  thing  by  him. 

I  may  as  well  say,  in  this  connection,  that 
George  Barry  had  a  mother  living.  They  occu- 
pied two  rooms  in  a  lodging-house  in  Bleecker 
Street,  and  lived  very  comfortably.  Mrs.  Barry 
had  an  allowance  of  two  hundred  dollars  a  year 
from  a  relation.  This,  with  what  she  earned  by 
sewing,  and  her  son  by  his  stand,  supported  them 
very  comfortably,  especially  as  they  provided  and 
cooked  their  own  food,  which  was,  of  course, 
much  cheaper  than  boarding.  Still,  the  loss  of 


PAUL"  THE  PEDDLER  57 

the  young  man's  earnings,  even  for  a  short  time, 
would  have  been  felt,  though  they  had  a  reserve 
of  a  hundred  dollars  in  a  savings  bank,  from 
which  they  might  draw  if  necessary.  But  George 
did  not  like  to  do  this.  The  arrangement  which 
he  made  with  Paul  was  a  satisfactory  one,  for 
with  half  his  usual  earnings  they  would  still  be 
able  to  keep  out  of  debt,  and  not  be  compelled  to 
draw  upon  the  fund  in  the  bank.  Of  course, 
something  depended  on  Paul's  success  as  a  sales- 
man, but  he  would  not  be  likely  to  fall  much  be- 
low the  average  amount  of  sales.  So,  on  the 
whole,  George  Barry  went  home  considerably 
relieved  in  mind,  though  his  head  was  throbbing, 
and  he  felt  decidedly  sick. 

Arrived  at  home,  his  mother,  who  understood 
sickness,  at  once  took  measures  to  relieve  him. 

"  Don't  mind  the  loss  of  a  few  days,  George," 
she  said  cheerfully;  "  we  shall  be  able  to  get 
along  very  well." 

"  It  '11  only  be  part  loss,  mother,"  he  said.  "  I've 
got  Paul  Hoffman  to  take  my  place  for  half  the 
profits." 

"  Paul  Hoffman !     Do  I  know  him?  " 

"  I  don't  think  he  has  ever  been  here,  but  I 
have  known  him  for  a  year." 

"Can  you  trust  him?" 

"  Yes,  I'm  not  at  all  afraid.     He  is  a  smart  boy, 


58  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

and  as  honest  as  he  is  smart.  I  think  he  will  sell 
nearly  as  much  as  I  would." 

"That  is  an  excellent  arrangement.  You 
needn't  feel  uneasy,  then." 

"  No,  the  business  will  go  on  right." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  your  salesman." 

"  You'll  see  him  to-night,  mother.  He's  com- 
ing round  this  evening  to  let  me  know  how  he's 
got  along,  and  hand  over  the  money  he's  taken 
in." 

"  You'd  better  be  quiet  now,  George,  and  go  to 
sleep,  if  you  can.  I'll  make  you  some  warm  tea. 
I  think  it'll  do  you  good." 

Meanwhile  Paul  assumed  charge  of  George 
Barry's  business.  He  was  sorry  his  friend  was 
sick,  but  he  congratulated  himself  on  getting 
into  business  so  soon. 

"  It's  more  respectable  than  selling  prize  pack- 
ages," thought  Paul.  "  I  wish  I  had  a  stand  of 
my  own." 

He  was  still  a  street  merchant,  but  among 
street  merchants  there  are  grades  as  well  as  among 
merchants  whose  claim  to  higher  respectability 
rests  upon  having  rent  to  pay.  Paul  felt  that  it 
was  almost  like  having  a  shop  of  his  own.  He 
had  always  looked  up  to  George  Barry  as  standing 
higher  than  himself  in  a  business  way,  and  he 
felt  that  even  if  his  earnings  should  not  be  as 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  59 

great,  that  it  was  a  step  upward  to  have  sole 
charge  of  his  stand,  if  only  for  a  day  or  two. 

Paul's  ambition  was  aroused.  It  was  for  his 
interest  to  make  as  large  sales  as  possible.  Be- 
sides, he  thought  he  would  like  to  prove  to  George 
Barry  that  he  had  made  a  good  selection  in  ap- 
pointing him  his  substitute. 

Now,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  George  Barry 
himself  was  not  possessed  of  superior  business 
ability.  He  was  lacking  in  energy  and  push. 
'He  could  sell  neckties  to  those  who  asked  for 
them,  but  had  no  particular  talent  for  attracting 
trade.  He  would  have  been  a  fair  clerk,  but  was 
never  likely  to  rise  above  a  very  moderate  suc- 
cess. Paul  was  quite  different.  He  was  quick, 
enterprising,  and  smart.  He  was  a  boy  likely 
to  push  his  way  to  success  unless  circumstances 
were  very  much  against  him. 

"  I'd  like  to  sell  more  than  George  Barry,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "  I  don't  know  if  I  can,  but 
I'm  going  to  try." 

The  day  was  half  over,  and  probably,  the  most 
profitable,  so  far  as  business  was  concerned. 
Paul  had  only  four  or  five  hours  left. 

"  Let  me  see,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  ought 
to  sell  six  neckties  to  come  up  to  the  average  of 
half  a  day's  sale.  I  wonder  whether  I  can  do  it." 

As  his  soliloquy  ended,  his  quick  eye  detected 


60  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

a  young  man  glancing  at  his  stock,  and  he  ob- 
served that  he  paused  irresolutely,  as  if  half 
inclined  to  purchase. 

"  Can't  I  sell  you  a  necktie  to-day?  "  asked 
Paul  promptly. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  the  other.  "  What  do 
you  charge?" 

"  You  can  have  your  choice  for  twenty-five 
cents.  That  is  cheap,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"Yes,  that's  cheap.      Let  me  look  at  them." 

"  Here's  one  that  will  suit  your  complexion," 
said  Paul. 

"Yes,  that's  a  pretty  one.  I  think  I'll  take 
it." 

"  You  have  to  pay  twice  as  much  in  the  shops/' 
continued  Paul,  as  he  rolled  it  up.  "  You  see, 
we  have  no  rent  to  pay,  and  so  we  can  sell  cheap. 
You'll  save  money  by  always  buying  your  neck- 
ties here." 

"  The  only  objection  to  that  is  that  I  don't  live 
in  the  city.  I  am  here  only  for  a  day.  I  live 
about  fifty  miles  in  the  country." 

"  Then  I'll  tell  you  what  you'd  better  do,"  said 
Paul.  "  Lay  in  half  a  dozen,  while  you  are  about 
it.  It'll  only  be  a  dollar  and  a  half,  and  you'll 
save  as  much  as  that  by  doing  it." 

"I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,"  said  his 
customer,  whom  the  suggestion  impressed  favor- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  61 

ably.  "  As  you  say,  it's  only  a  dollar  and  a  half, 
and  it'll  give  me  a  good  stock." 

"  Let  me  pick  them  out  for  you,"  said  Paul 
briskly,  "  unless  there's  something  you  see  your- 
self." 

"  I  like  that  one." 

"All  right.     What  shall  be  the  next?" 

Finally,  the  young  man  selected  the  entire  half- 
dozen,  and  deposited  a  dollar  and  a  half  in  Paul's 
hands. 

"Come  and  see  me  again,"  said  Paul;  "and 
if  you  have  any  friends  coming  to  the  city,  send 
them  to  me." 

"  I  will,"  said  the  other. 

"  Tell  them  it's  the  first  stand  south  of  the  Astor 
House.  Then  they  won't  miss  it." 

"  That's  a  good  beginning,"  said  Paul  to  him- 
self, with  satisfaction.  "  Half  a  day's  average 
sales  already,  and  I've  only  been  here  fifteen  min- 
utes. Let  me  see,  what  will  my  profits  be  on 
that?  Three  shillings,  I  declare.  That  isn't 
bad,  now ! " 

Paul  had  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  himself. 
If  he  had  not  spoken,  the  young  man  would  prob- 
ably have  gone  on  without  purchasing  at  all,  or, 
at  any  rate,  remained  content  with  a  single  neck- 
tie. Paul's  manner  and  timely  word  had  in- 
creased his  purchase  sixfold.  .That  is  generally 


60  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

a  young  man  glancing  at  his  stock,  and  he  ob- 
served that  he  paused  irresolutely,  as  if  half 
inclined  to  purchase. 

"Can't  I  sell  you  a  necktie  to-day?"  asked 
Paul  promptly. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  the  other.  "  .What  do 
you  charge  ?  " 

"  You  can  have  your  choice  for  twenty-five 
cents.  That  is  cheap,  isn't  it?  " 

"Yes,  that's  cheap.      Let  me  look  at  them." 

"  Here's  one  that  will  suit  your  complexion," 
said  Paul. 

"Yes,  that's  a  pretty  one.  I  think  I'll  take 
it." 

"  You  have  to  pay  twice  as  much  in  the  shops/' 
continued  Paul,  as  he  rolled  it  up.  "  You  see, 
we  have  no  rent  to  pay,  and  so  we  can  sell  cheap. 
You'll  save  money  by  always  buying  your  neck- 
ties here." 

"  The  only  objection  to  that  is  that  I  don't  live 
in  the  city.  I  am  here  only  for  a  day.  I  live 
about  fifty  miles  in  the  country." 

"  Then  I'll  tell  you  what  you'd  better  do,"  said 
Paul.  "  Lay  in  half  a  dozen,  while  you  are  about 
it.  It'll  only  be  a  dollar  and  a  half,  and  you'll 
save  as  much  as  that  by  doing  it." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,"  said  his 
customer,  whom  the  suggestion  impressed  favor- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  61 

ably.  "  As  you  say,  it's  only  a  dollar  and  a  half, 
and  it'll  give  me  a  good  stock." 

"  Let  me  pick  them  out  for  you,"  said  Paul 
briskly,  "  unless  there's  something  you  see  your- 
self." 

"  I  like  that  one." 

"All  right.     What  shall  be  the  next?" 

Finally,  the  young  man  selected  the  entire  half- 
dozen,  and  deposited  a  dollar  and  a  half  in  Paul's 
hands. 

"  Come  and  see  me  again,"  said  Paul;  "  and 
if  you  have  any  friends  coming  to  the  city,  send 
them  to  me." 

"  I  will,"  said  the  other. 

"  Tell  them  it's  the  first  stand  south  of  the  Astor 
House.  Then  they  won't  miss  it." 

"  That's  a  good  beginning,"  said  Paul  to  him- 
self, with  satisfaction.  "  Half  a  day's  average 
sales  already,  and  I've  only  been  here  fifteen  min- 
utes. Let  me  see,  what  will  my  profits  be  on 
that?  Three  shillings,  I  declare.  That  isn't 
bad,  now !  " 

Paul  had  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  himself. 
If  he  had  not  spoken,  the  young  man  would  prob- 
ably have  gone  on  without  purchasing  at  all,  or, 
at  any  rate,  remained  content  with  a  single  neck- 
tie. Paul's  manner  and  timely  word  had  in- 
creased his  purchase  sixfold.  That  is  generally 


62  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

the  difference  between  a  poor  salesman  and  one 
of  the  first  class.  Anybody  can  sell  to  those  who 
are  anxious  to  buy;  but  it  takes  a  smart  man  to 
persuade  a  customer  that  he  wants  what  other- 
wise he  would  go  without.  The  difference  in  suc- 
cess is  generally  appreciated  by  dealers,  and  a 
superior  salesman  is  generally  paid  a  handsome 
salary. 

"  I  don't  believe  George  Barry  would  have  sold 
that  man  so  many  ties,"  thought  Paul.  "  I  hope 
I  shall  have  as  good  luck  next  time." 

But  this,  of  course,  was  not  to  be  expected.  It 
is  not  every  customer  who  can  be  persuaded  to 
buy  half  a  dozen  ties,  even  by  the  most  eloquent 
salesman.  However,  in  the  course  of  an  hour 
more,  Paul  had  sold  three  more  to  single  cus- 
tomers. Then  came  a  man  who  bought  two. 
Then  there  was  a  lull,  and  for  an  hour  Paul  sold 
none  at  all.  But  business  improved  a  little  to- 
ward the  close  of  the  afternoon,  and  when  it  was 
time  to  close  up,  our  young  merchant  found  that 
he  had  disposed  of  fifteen. 

"  My  share  of  the  profits  will  be  ninety-three 
cents,"  thought  Paul,  with  satisfaction.  "That 
isn't  bad  for  an  afternoon's  work." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

A    STROKE    OF    ILL    LUCK 

Paul  transferred  his  frame  of  goods  to  a  neigh- 
boring office  at  the  end  of  the  afternoon,  the  ar- 
rangement having  been  made  by  George  Barry,  on 
first  entering  into  business  as  a  street  merchant. 
This  saved  a  good  deal  of  trouble,  as  otherwise  he 
would  have  been  compelled  to  carry  them  home 
every  night  and  bring  them  back  in  the  morning. 

"  Well,  Paul,"  asked  his  mother,  when  he  re- 
turned to  supper,  "  have  you  found  anything  to 
do  yet?" 

"  I  have  got  employment  for  a  few  days,"  said 
Paul,  "  to  tend  a  necktie  stand.  The  man  that 
keeps  it  is  sick." 

"  How  much  does  he  pay  you,  Paul  ?  "  asked 
Jimmy. 

"  Half  the  profits.  How  much  do  you  think 
I  have  made  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  Forty  cents." 

"  What  do  you  say  to  ninety-three  cents  ?  Just 
look  at  this,"  and  Paul  displayed  his  earnings. 

*3 


64  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  That  is  excellent." 

"  I  had  good  luck.  Generally,  I  shan't  make 
more  in  a  whole  day  than  this." 

"  That  will  be  doing  very  well." 

"  But  I  shall  make  more  if  I  can.  One  fellow 
bought  six  neckties  of  me  this  afternoon.  I  wish 
everybody  would  do  that.  Now,  mother,  I  hope 
supper  is  'most  ready,  for  selling  neckties  has 
made  me  hungry." 

"  Almost  ready,  Paul." 

It  was  a  humble  meal,  but  a  good  one.  There 
were  fresh  rolls  and  butter,  tea  and  some  cold 
meat.  That  was  all;  but  the  cloth  was  clean, 
and  everything  looked  neat.  All  did  justice  to 
the  plain  meal,  and  never  thought  of  envying  the 
thousands  who,  in  their  rich  uptown  mansions, 
were  sitting  down  at  the  same  hour  to  elaborate 
dinners  costing  more  than  their  entire  week's 
board. 

"  Are  you  going  out,  Paul  ? "  asked  Mrs. 
Hoffman,  noticing  that  he  took  his  hat. 

"Yes,  I  must  go  and  see  George  Barry,  and 
carry  the  money  I  have  received  for  sales." 

"Where  does  he  live?" 

"  In  Bleecker  Street.     I  shan't  be  gone  long.'* 

Paul  reached  the  number  which  had  been  given 
him.  It  was  a  large  four-story  house,  with  the 
appearance  of  a  barracks. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  65 

"  Mr.  Barry,"  said  the  servant  in  answer  to 
his  question — "  he  lives  upstairs  on  the  fourth 
floor.  Room  on  the  right." 

Paul  plodded  his  way  upstairs,  and  found  the 
room  without  difficulty. 

On  knocking,  the  door  was  opened  by  Mrs 
Barry,  who  looked  at  him  inquiringly. 

"  Does  George  Barry  live  here  ?  "  asked  Paul. 

"  Yes.  Are  you  the  one  he  left  in  charge  of 
his  business  ?  " 

Paul  answered  in  the  affirmative,  adding, 
"How  is  he?" 

"  He  seems  quite  feverish.  I  am  afraid  he  is 
going  to  have  a  fever.  It's  fortunate  he  came 
home.  He  was  not  able  to  attend  to  his  business." 

"  Can  I  see  him  ?  " 

"  Come  in,"  said  Mrs.  Barry. 

The  room  was  covered  with  a  worn  carpet,  but 
looked  neat  and  comfortable.  There  was  a  cheap 
sewing  machine  in  one  corner,  and  some  plain 
furniture.  There  was  a  bedroom  opening  out 
of  this  room,  and  here  it  was  that  George  Barry 
lay  upon  the  bed. 

"  Is  that  Paul  Hoffman,  mother?  "  was  heard 
from  the  bedroom. 

"  Yes,"  said  Paul,  answering  for  himself. 

"  Go  in  if  you  like,"  said  Mrs.  Barry.  "  My 
son  wishes  to  see  you." 


68  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Very  well,"  said  Paul.  "  Then  you  may  ex- 
pect me  Saturday.  I  hope  I  shall  have  some 
good  sales  to  report,  and  that  I  shall  find  you 
better." 

Paul  descended  to  the  street,  and  walked  slowly 
homeward.  He  couldn't  help  wishing  that 
the  stand  was  his  own,  and  the  entire  profits 
his.  This  would  double  his  income,  and  enable 
him  to  save  up  money.  At  present  this  was 
hardly  possible.  His  own  earnings  had  been, 
and  were  likely  to  continue,  very  fluctuating. 
Still,  they  constituted  the  main  support  of  the 
family. 

His  mother  made  shirts  for  an  establish- 
ment on  Broadway  at  twenty-five  cents  each, 
which  was  more  than  some  establishments  paid. 
She  could  hardly  average  more  than  one  shirt  a 
day,  in  addition  to  her  household  work,  and  in 
order  to  accomplish  this,  even,  she  was  obliged 
to  work  very  steadily  all  day.  Jimmy,  of  course, 
earned  nothing.  Not  that  he  was  too  young. 
There  were  plenty  of  little  newsboys  who  were 
as  small  as  he — perhaps  smaller.  I  have  seen 
boys  who  did  not  appear  to  be  more  than  four 
years  old,  standing  at  the  corners,  crying  the  news 
in  their  childish  treble.  But  Paul  was  not  willing 
to  have  Jimmy  sent  out  into  the  streets  to  under- 
go the  rough  discipline  of  street  life.  He  was 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  69 

himself  of  a  strong,  robust  nature,  and  did  not 
shrink  from  the  rough  and  tumble  of  life.  He 
felt  sure  he  could  make  his  way,  and  give  as  well 
as  receive  blows.  But  Jimmy  was  shy  and  retir- 
ing, of  a  timid,  shrinking  nature,  who  would 
suffer  from  what  would  only  exhilarate  Paul,  and 
brace  him  for  the  contest.  So  it  was  understood 
that  Jimmy  was  to  get  an  education,  studying  at 
present  at  home  with  his  mother,  who  had  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  and  that  Mrs.  Hoffman 
and  Paul  were  to  be  the  bread-winners.  "  I  wish 
mother  didn't  have  to  sit  so  steadily  at  her  work," 
thought  Paul,  many  a  time.  He  resolved  some- 
time to  relieve  her  from  the  necessity;  but  at  pres- 
ent it  was  impossible.  To  maintain  their  small 
family  in  comfort  required  all  that  both  could 
earn. 

The  next  morning  Paul  started  out  after  break- 
fast for  the  street  stand,  wondering  what  success 
he  was  destined  to  meet  with. 

About  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man prepared  to  go  out. 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  stay  alone  for  an  hour 
or  two,  Jimmy?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  mother,"  answered  Jimmy,  who  was 
deep  in  a  picture  which  he  was  copying  from  one 
of  the  drawing-books  Paul  had  bought  him. 
"  Where  are  you  going,  mother?  " 


70  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  To  carry  back  some  work,  Jimmy.  I  have 
got  half  a  dozen  shirts  done,  and  must  return 
them,  and  ask  for  more." 

"They  ought  to  pay  you  more  than  twenty- 
five  cents  apiece,  mother.  How  long  has  it  taken 
you  to  make  them  ?  " 

"  Nearly  a  week." 

"  That  is  only  a  dollar  and  a  half  for  a  week's 
work." 

"I  know  it,  Jimmy;  but  they  can  get  plenty 
to  work  at  that  price,  so  it  won't  do  for  me  to 
complain.  I  shall  be  very  glad  if  I  can  get  steady 
work,  even  at  that  price." 

Jimmy  said  no  more,  and  Mrs.  Hoffman, 
gathering  up  her  bundle,  went  out. 

She  had  a  little  more  than  a  half  a  mile  to  go. 
This  did  not  require  long.  She  entered  the  large 
door,  and  advanced  to  the  counter  behind  which 
stood  a  young  man  with  a  pen  behind  his 
ear. 

"  How  many?  "  he  said,  as  she  laid  the  bundle 
upon  the  counter. 

"  Six." 

"Name?" 

"  Hoffman." 

"  Correct.     I  will  look  at  them." 

He  opened  the  bundle  hastily,  and  surveyed 
the  work  critically.  Luckily  there  was  no  fault 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  71 

to  find,  for  Mrs.  Hoffman  was  a  skilled  seam- 
stress. 

"  They  will  do,"  he  said,  and,  taking  from  a 
drawer  the  stipulated  sum,  paid  for  them. 

"  Can  I  have  some  more  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man anxiously. 

"  Not  to-day.  We  are  overstocked  with  goods 
made  up.  We  must  contract  our  manufac- 
ture." 

This  was  unexpected,  and  carried  dismay  to  the 
heart  of  the  poor  woman.  What  she  could  earn 
was  very  little,  but  it  was  important  to  her. 

"  When  do  you  think  you  can  give  me  some 
more  work?  "  she  asked. 

"  It  may  be  a  month  or  six  weeks,"  he  an- 
swered carelessly. 

A  month  or  six  weeks !  To  have  her  supply  of 
work  cut  off  for  so  long  a  time  would,  indeed, 
be  a  dire  misfortune.  But  there  was  nothing  to 
say.  Mrs.  Hoffman  knew  very  well  that  no  one 
in  the  establishment  cared  for  her  necessities.  So, 
with  a  heavy  heart,  she  started  for  home,  making 
up  her  mind  to  look  elsewhere  for  work  in  the 
afternoon.  She  could  not  help  recalling,  with 
sorrow,  the  time  when  her  husband  was  living, 
and  they  lived  in  a  pleasant  little  home,  before 
the  shadow  of  bereavement  and  pecuniary  anxiety 
had  come  to  cloud  their  happiness.  Still,  she 


72  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

was  not  utterly  cast  down.  Paul  had  proved 
himself  a  manly  and  a  helpful  boy,  self-reliant 
and  courageous,  and,  though  they  might  be 
pinched,  she  knew  that  as  long  as  he  was  able 
to  work  they  would  not  actually  suffer. 


CHAPTER  IX 

A    NEW    PATRON 

Mrs.  Hoffman  went  out  in  the  afternoon,  and 
visited  several  large  establishments  in  the  hope 
of  obtaining  work.  But  everywhere  she  was  met 
with  the  stereotyped  reply,  "  Business  is  so  dull 
that  we  are  obliged  to  turn  off  some  who  are 
are  accustomed  to  work  for  us.  We  have  no 
room  for  new  hands." 

Finally  she  decided  that  it  would  be  of  no  use 
to  make  any  further  applications,  and  went  home, 
feeling  considerably  disheartened. 

"  I  must  find  something  to  do,"  she  said  to 
herself.  "  I  cannot  throw  upon  Paul  the  entire 
burden  of  supporting  the  family." 

But  it  was  not  easy  to  decide  what  to  do. 
There  are  so  few  paths  open  to  a  woman  like 
Mrs.  Hoffman.  She  was  not  strong  enough  to 
take  in  washing,  nor,  if  she  had  been,  would  Paul, 
who  was  proud  for  his  mother,  though  not  for 
himself,  have  consented  to  her  doing  it.  She 
determined  to  think  it  over  during  the  evening, 

73 


74  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

and  make  another  attempt  to  get  work  of  some 
kind  the  next  day. 

"  I  won't  tell  Paul  till  to-morrow  night,"  she 
decided.  "  Perhaps  by  that  time  I  shall  have 
found  something  to  do." 

All  that  day,  the  first  full  day  in  his  new  busi- 
ness, Paul  sold  eighteen  ties.  He  was  not  as 
successful  proportionately  as  the  previous  after- 
noon. Still  his  share  of  the  profits  amounted  to 
a  dollar  and  twelve  cents,  and  he  felt  quite  satis- 
fied. His  sales  had  been  fifty  per  cent,  more  than 
George  Barry's  average  sales,  and  that  was  doing 
remarkably  well,  considering  that  the  business  was 
a  new  one  to  him. 

The  next  morning  about  ten  o'clock,  as  he  stood 
behind  his  stand,  he  saw  a  stout  gentleman  ap- 
proaching from  the  direction  of  the  Astor  House. 
He  remembered  him  as  the  one  with  whom  he  had 
accidentally  come  in  collision  when  he  was  in  pur- 
suit of  Mike  Donovan.  Having  been  invited  to 
speak  to  him  when  he  saw  him  again,  he  deter- 
mined to  do  so." 

"  Good-morning,  sir,"  said  Paul  politely. 

"Eh?  Did  you  speak  to  me?"  inquired  the 
stout  gentleman. 

"  Yes,  sir;  I  bade  you  good-morning." 

"  Good-morning.  I  don't  remember  you, 
though.  What's  your  name?  " 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  75 

"  Paul  Hoffman.  Don't  you  remember  my 
running  against  you  a  day  or  two  since  ?  " 

"  Oho !  you're  the  boy,  then.  You  nearly 
knocked  the  breath  out  of  me." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  sir." 

"  Of  course  you  didn't  mean  to.  Is  this  your 
stand  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  I  am  tending  for  the  owner,  who  is 
sick." 

"  Does  he  pay  you  well  ?  " 

"  He  gives  me  half  the  profits." 

"  And  does  that  pay  you  for  your  labor?  " 

"  I  can  earn  about  a  dollar  a  day." 

"  That  is  good.  It  is  more  than  I  earned  when 
I  was  of  your  age." 

"Indeed,  sir!" 

"  Yes ;  I  was  a  poor  boy,  but  I  kept  steadily  at 
work,  and  now  I  am  rich." 

"  I  hope  I  shall  be  rich  sometime,"  said  Paul. 

"  You  have  the  same  chance  that  I  had." 

"  I  don't  care  so  much  for  myself  as  for  my 
mother  and  my  little  brother.  I  should  like  to 
become  rich  for  their  sake." 

"  So  you  have  a  mother  and  a  brother.  Where 
do  they  live?" 

Paul  told  him. 

"And  you  help  support  them?" 

"Yes,  sir." 


j6  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  That's  a  good  boy,"  said  the  gentleman 
approvingly.  "  Is  your  mother  able  to  earn  any- 
thing? " 

"  Not  much,  sir.  She  makes  shirts  for  a 
Broadway  store,  but  they  only  pay  her  twenty- 
five  cents  apiece." 

"  That's  very  small.  She  can  sew  well,  I  sup- 
pose?" 

"Oh,  yes,  sir;  no  fault  is  ever  found  with  her 
work." 

"  Do  you  think  she  would  make  me  a  dozen 
shirts?" 

"  She  would  be  glad  to  do  so,"  said  Paul 
quickly,  for  he  knew  that  his  new  acquaintance 
would  pay  far  more  liberally  than  the  Broadway 
firm. 

"  I  will  give  the  price  I  usually  pay — ten  shil- 
lings apiece." 

Ten  shillings  in  New  York  currency  amount 
to  a  dollar  and  a  quarter,  and  would  be  five  times 
the  price  Mrs.  Hoffman  had  been  accustomed  to 
receive.  A  dozen  shirts  would  come  to  fifteen 
dollars,  which  to  a  family  in  their  circumstances 
would  be  a  great  help. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Paul.  "  My  mother 
will  accept  the  work  thankfully,  and  will  try  to 
suit  you.  When  shall  I  come  for  the  cloth?" 

"  You  may  come  to  my  house  this  evening,  and 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  77 

I  will  give  you  a  pattern,  and  an  order  for  the 
materials  on  a  dry-goods  dealer  in  Broadway.'* 

"  Where  do  you  live,  sir?  " 

"  No. Madison  Avenue,  between  Thirty- 
fourth  and  Thirty-fifth  Streets.  My  name  is 
Preston.  Can  you  remember  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir;  but  I  will  put  it  down  to  make  sure." 

"  Well,  good-morning." 

"  Good-morning,  sir.  I  suppose  you  don't 
want  a  tie  this  morning?" 

"  I  don't  think  you  keep  the  kind  I  am  accus- 
tomed to  wear,"  said  Mr.  Preston,  smiling.  "  I 
stick  to  the  old  fashions,  and  wear  a  stock." 

The  old  gentleman  had  scarcely  gone,  when  two 
boys  of  twelve  or  thirteen  paused  before  the  stand. 

"  That's  a  bully  tie,  Jeff,"  said  George,  the  elder 
of  the  two.  "  I  have  a  good  mind  to  buy  it." 

"  It  won't  cost  much,"  said  Jeff.  "  Only 
twenty-five  cents.  But  I  like  that  one  better." 

"  If  you  buy  one,  I  will." 

"All  right,"  said  Jeff,  whose  full  name  was 
Jefferson.  "  We  can  wear  them  to  dancing- 
school  this  afternoon." 

So  the  two  boys  bought  a  necktie,  and  this,  in 
addition  to  previous  sales,  made  six  sold  during 
the  morning. 

"  I  hope  I  shall  do  as  well  as  I  did  yesterday," 
thought  Paul.  "  If  I  can  make  nine  shillings 


78  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

every  day  I  won't  complain.  It  is  better  than 
selling  prize  packages." 

Paul  seemed  likely  to  obtain  his  wish,  since 
at  twelve  o'clock,  when  he  returned  home  to  din- 
ner, he  had  sold  ten  ties,  making  rather  more  than 
half  of  the  previous  day's  sales. 

Mrs.  Hoffman  had  been  out  once  more,  but  met 
with  no  better  success  than  before.  There  seemed 
to  be  no  room  anywhere  for  a  new  hand.  At  sev- 
eral places  she  had  seen  others  out  of  employment 
like  herself,  who  were  also  in  quest  of  work.  The 
only  encouragement  she  received  was  that  prob- 
ably in  a  month  or  six  weeks  business  might  so 
far  improve  that  she  could  obtain  work.  But  to 
Mrs.  Hoffman  it  was  a  serious  matter  to  remain 
idle  even  four  weeks.  She  reflected  that  Paul's 
present  employment  was  only  temporary,  and  that 
he  would  be  forced  to  give  up  his  post  as  soon  as 
George  Barry  should  recover  his  health,  which 
probably  would  be  within  a  week  or  two.  She 
tried  in  vain  to  think  of  some  temporary  employ- 
ment, and  determined,  in  case  she  should  be  unsuc- 
cessful in  the  afternoon,  which  she  hardly  antici- 
pated, to  consult  Paul  as  to  what  she  had  bet- 
ter do. 

Paul  noticed  when  he  came  in  that  his  mother 
looked  more  sober  and  thoughtful  than  usual. 

"  Have  you  a  headache,  mother  ?  "  he  inquired 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  79 

"  No,  Paul,"  she  said,  smiling  faintly. 

"  Something  troubles  you,  I  am  sure,"  con- 
tinued Paul. 

"  You  are  right,  Paul,"  s  id  Mrs.  Hoffman, 
"  though  I  didn't  mean  to  tell  you  till  evening." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  asked  Paul  anxiously. 

"  When  I  carried  back  the  last  shirts  I  made  for 
Duncan  &  Co.,  they  told  me  I  couldn't  have  any 
more  for  a  month  or  six  weeks." 

"  That  will  give  you  some  time  to  rest,  mother," 
said  Paul,  who  wanted  to  keep  back  his  good  news 
for  a  while. 

"  But  I  can't  afford  to  rest,  Paul." 

"  You  forget  that  I  am  earning  money,  mother. 
I  am  sure  I  can  earn  a  dollar  a  day." 

"  I  know  you  are  a  good,  industrious  boy,  Paul, 
and  I  don't  know  how  we  should  get  along  with- 
out you.  But  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  do  my 
part,  though  it  is  small." 

"  Don't  be  anxious,  mother;  I  am  sure  we  can 
get  along." 

"  But  I  am  not  willing  that  the  whole  burden 
of  supporting  the  family  should  come  upon  you. 
Besides,  you  are  not  sure  how  long  you  can  re- 
tain your  present  employment." 

"  I  know  that,  mother;  but  something  else  will 
be  sure  to  turn  up.  If  I  can't  do  anything  else,  I 
can  turn  bootblack,  though  I  would  prefer  some- 


8o  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

thing  else.  There  is  no  chance  of  my  being  out 
of  work  long." 

"  There  are  fewer  things  for  me  to  do,"  said 
his  mother,  "  but  perhaps  you  can  think  of  some- 
thing. I  shall  go  out  this  afternoon,  and  try  my 
luck  once  more.  If  I  do  not  succeed,  I  will  con- 
sult with  you  this  evening." 

"  Suppose  I  tell  you  that  I  have  work  for  you, 
enough  to  last  for  two  or  three  weeks,  that  will 
pay  five  times  as  well  as  the  work  you  have  been 
doing;  what  would  you  say  to  that?  "  asked  Paul, 
smiling. 

"  Are  you  in  earnest,  Paul?  "  asked  his  mother, 
very  much  surprised. 

"  Quite  in  earnest,  mother.  There's  a  gentle- 
man uptown  that  wants  a  dozen  shirts  made,  and 
is  willing  to  pay  ten  shillings  apiece." 

"Ten  shillings!  Why,  that's  a  dollar  and  a 
quarter." 

"  Of  course  it  is.  I  told  him  I  thought  you 
would  accommodate  him." 

"  You  are  sure  I  can  get  the  work  to  do  ?  " 

"  Certainly.  I  am  to  go  up  to  his  house  this 
evening  and  get  the  pattern  and  an  order  for  the 
materials." 

"  It  seems  too  good  to  be  true,"  said  his  mother. 
"  Why,  I  can  earn  at  least  a  dollar  a  day." 

"  Then  you  will  be  doing  as  well  as  I  am." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  81 

"  Tell  me  how  you  heard  of  it,  Paul,"  said  Mrs. 
Hoffman. 

Paul  told  the  story  of  the  manner  in  which  he 
formed  Mr.  Preston's  acquaintance. 

"  It's  lucky  you  ran  into  him,  Paul,"  said 
Jimmy. 

"  He  didn't  think  so  at  the  time,"  said  Paul, 
laughing.  "  He  said  I  nearly  knocked  the  breath 
out  of  him." 

"  You  won't  go  out  this  afternoon,  mother,  will 
you?  "  asked  Jimmy. 

"  No,  it  will  not  be  necessary  now;  I  didn't 
think  this  morning  that  such  a  piece  of  good  luck 
was  in  store  for  me." 


CHAPTER  X 

/ 

ANOTHER    LOSS 

After  supper  Paul  brushed  his  clothes  carefully 
and  prepared  to  go  to  the  address  given  him  by 
Mr.  Preston.  He  decided  to  walk  one  way,  not 
wishing  to  incur  the  expenses  of  two  railroad 
fares.  The  distance  was  considerable,  and  it  was 
nearly  eight  o'clock  when  he  arrived  at  his  desti- 
nation. 

Paul  found  himself  standing  before  a  handsome 
house  of  brown  stone.  He  ascended  the  steps, 
and  inquired,  on  the  door  being  opened,  if  Mr. 
Preston  was  at  home. 

"  I'll  see,"  said  the  servant. 

She  returned  in  a  short  time,  and  said :  "  He 
says  you  may  come  upstairs." 

Paul  followed  the  servant,  who  pointed  out  a 
door  at  the  head  of  the  first  staircase. 

Paul  knocked,  and,  hearing  "  Come  in,"  from 
within,  he  opened  the  door  and  entered. 

He  found  himself  in  a  spacious  chamber,  hand- 
somely furnished.  Mr.  Preston,  in  dressing- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  83 

gown  and  slippers,  sat  before  a  cheerful,  open 
fire. 

"  Come  and  sit  down  by  the  fire,"  he  said  soci- 
ably. 

"Thank  you,  sir,  I  am  warm  with  walking," 
and  Paul  took  a  seat  near  the  door. 

"  I  am  one  of  the  cold  kind,"  said  Mr.  Preston, 
"  and  have  a  fire  earlier  than  most  people.  You 
come  about  the  shirts,  I  suppose?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Will  your  mother  undertake  them  ?  " 

"  With  pleasure,  sir.  She  can  no  longer  get 
work  from  the  shop." 

"  Business  dull,  I  suppose?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  I  am  glad  I  thought  of  giving  her  the 
commission.  How's  business  with  you  to-day, 
eh?" 

"Pretty  good,  sir." 

"  How  many  neckties  did  you  sell  ?  " 

"  Nineteen,  sir." 

"  And  how  much  do  you  get  for  that  ?  " 

"  Nine  shillings  and  a  half — a  dollar  and 
eighteen  cents." 

"  That's  pretty  good  for  a  boy  like  you.  When 
I  was  of  your  age  I  was  working  on  a  farm  for  my 
board  and  clothes." 

"  Were  you,  sir?  "  asked  Paul,  interested. 


84  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Yes,  I  was  bound  out  till  I  was  twenty-one. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  I  was  to  receive  a  hundred 
dollars  and  a  freedom  suit  to  begin  the  world  with. 
That  wasn't  a  very  large  capital,  eh?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  But  the  death  of  my  employer  put  an  end  to 
my  apprenticeship  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  I 
hadn't  a  penny  of  money,  and  was  thrown  upon 
my  own  resources.  However,  I  had  a  pair  of 
good  strong  arms,  and  a  good  stock  of  courage. 
I  knew  considerable  about  farming,  but  I  didn't 
like  it.  I  thought  I  should  like  trade  better.  So 
I  went  to  the  village  merchant,  who  kept  a  small 
dry-goods  store,  and  arranged  with  him  to  supply 
me  with  a  small  stock  of  goods,  which  I  under- 
took to  sell  on  commission  for  him.  His  busi- 
ness was  limited,  and  having  confidence  in  my 
honesty,  he  was  quite  willing  to  intrust  me  with 
what  I  wanted.  So  I  set  out  with  my  pack  on 
my  back,  and  made  a  tour  of  the  neighboring 
villages." 

Paul  listened  with  eager  interest.  He  had  his 
own  way  to  make,  and  it  was  very  encouraging 
to  find  that  Mr.  Preston,  who  was  evidently  rich 
and  prosperous,  was  no  better  off  at  eighteen  than 
he  was  now. 

"  You  will  want  to  know  how  I  succeeded. 
iWell,  at  first  only  moderately;  but  I  think  I  had 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  85 

some  tact  in  adapting  myself  to  the  different 
classes  of  persons  with  whom  I  came  in  contact? 
at  any  rate,  I  was  always  polite,  and  that  helped 
me.  So  my  sales  increased,  and  I  did  a  good 
thing  for  my  employer  as  well  as  myself.  He 
would  have  been  glad  to  employ  me  for  a  series 
of  years,  but  I  happened  to  meet  a  traveling  sales- 
man of  a  New  York  wholesale  house,  who  offered 
to  obtain  me  a  position  similar  to  his  own.  As 
this  would  give  me  a  larger  field  and  larger  profits, 
I  accepted  gladly,  and  so  changed  the  nature  of 
my  employment.  fl  became  very  successful.  My 
salary  was  raised  from  time  to  time,  till  it  reached 
five  thousand  dollars.  I  lived  frugally  and  saved 
money,  and  at  length  bought  an  interest  in  the 
house  by  which  I  had  been  so  long  employed.  I 
am  now  senior  partner,  and,  as  you  may  suppose, 
very  comfortably  provided  for. 

"Do  you  know  why  I  have  told  you  this?" 
asked  Mr.  Preston,  noticing  the  eagerness  with 
,which  Paul  had  listened. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir;  but  I  have  been  very  much! 
interested." 

"  It  is  because  I  like  to  give  encouragement  to 
boys  and  young  men  who  are  now  situated  as  I 
used  to  be.  I  think  you  are  a  smart  boy." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  And,  though  you  are  poor,  you  can  lift  your- 


86  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

self  to  prosperity,  if  you  are  willing  to  work  hard 
enough  and  long  enough." 

"  I  am  not  afraid  of  work,"  said  Paul  promptly. 

"  No,  I  do  not  believe  you  are.  I  can  tell  by 
a  boy's  face,  and  you  have  the  appearance  of  one 
who  is  willing  to  work  hard.  How  long  have  you 
been  a  streej:  peddler  ?  " 

"About  a  year,  sir.  Before  that  time  my 
father  was  living,  and  I  was  kept  at  school." 

"  You  will  find  the  street  a  school,  though  of  a 
different  kind,  in  which  you  can  learn  valuable 
lessons.  If  you  can  get  time  in  the  evening,  how- 
ever, it  will  be  best  to  keep  up  your  school 
studies." 

"  I  am  doing  that  now,  sir." 

"  That  is  well.  And  now,  about  the  shirts. 
Did  your  mother  say  how  long  it  would  take  her 
to  make  them  ?  " 

"About  three  weeks,  I  think,  sir.  Will  that 
be  soon  enough  ?  " 

"  That  will  do.  Perhaps  it  will  be  well,  how- 
ever, to  bring  half  the  number  whenever  they  are 
finished." 

"  All  right,  sir." 

"  I  suppose  your  mother  can  cut  them  out  if  I 
send  a  shirt  as  a  pattern  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Mr.  Preston  rose,  and,  going  to  a  bureau,  took 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  87 

therefrom  a  shirt  which  he  handed  to  Paul.  He 
then  wrote  a  few  lines  on  a  slip  of  paper,  which  he 
also  handed  our  hero. 

"That  is  an  order  on  Barclay  &  Co.,"  he  ex- 
plained, "  for  the  requisite  materials.  If  either 
you  or  your  mother  presents  it,  they  will  be  given 
you." 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  said  Paul. 

He  took  his  cap  and  prepared  to  go. 

"  Good-evening,  Mr.  Preston,"  he  said. 

"  Good-evening.  I  shall  expect  you  with  the 
shirts  when  they  are  ready." 

Paul  went  downstairs  and  into  the  street,  think- 
ing that  Mr.  Preston  was  very  sociable  and  agree- 
able. 'fHe  had  fancied  that  rich  men  were  gener- 
ally "stuck  up,"  but  about  Mr.  Preston  there 
seemed  an  absence  of  all  pretensej  Paul's  ambi- 
tion was  aroused  when  he  thought  of  the  story 
he  had  heard,  and  he  wondered  whether  it  would 
be  possible  for  him  to  raise  himself  to  wealth,  and 
live  in  as  handsome  a  house  as  Mr.  Preston.  He 
thought  what  a  satisfaction  it  would  be  if  the  time 
should  ever  come  when  he  could  free  his  mother 
from  the  necessity  of  work,  and  give  little  Jimmy 
a  chance  to  develop  his  talent  for  drawing.  How- 
ever, such  success  must  be  a  long  way  off,  if  it 
ever  came. 

He  had  intended  to  ride  home,  but  his  mind 


88  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

was  so  preoccupied  that  he  forgot  all  about  it,  and 
had  got  some  distance  on  his  way  before  it  oc- 
curred to  him.  Then,  not  feeling  particularly 
tired,  he  concluded  to  keep  on  walking,  as  he  had 
commenced. 

"  It  will  save  me  six  cents,"  he  reflected,  "  and 
that  is  something.  If  I  am  ever  going  to  be  a 
prosperous  merchant,  I  must  begin  to  save  now." 

So  he  kept  on  walking.  Passing  the  Cooper 
Institute,  he  came  into  the  Bowery,  a  broad  and 
busy  street,  the  humble  neighbor  of  Broadway, 
to  which  it  is  nearly  parallel. 

He  was  still  engaged  in  earnest  thought,  when 
he  felt  a  rude  slap  on  the  back.  Looking  round, 
he  met  the  malicious  glance  of  Mike  Donovan, 
who  probably  would  not  have  ventured  on  such 
a  liberty  if  he  had  not  been  accompanied  by  a 
boy  a  head  taller  than  himself,  and,  to  judge  from 
appearances,  of  about  the  same  character. 

"  What  did  you  do  that  for,  Mike?  "  demanded 
Paul. 

"  None  of  your  business.  I  didn't  hurt  you, 
did  I  ?  "  returned  Mike  roughly. 

"  No,  but  I  don't  care  to  be  hit  that  way  by 
you." 

"  So  you're  putting  on  airs,  are  you  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  do  that,"  returned  Paul;  "but  I 
don't  care  about  having  anything  to  do  with  you." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  89 

"  That's  because  you've  got  a  new  shirt,  is  it  ?  " 
sneered  Mike. 

"  It  isn't  mine." 

"  That's  what  I  thought.  Who  did  you  steal 
it  from  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  insult  me,  Mike  Donovan?  " 
demanded  Paul  angrily. 

"  Just  as  you  like/'  said  Mike  independently. 

"If  you  want  to  know  why  I  don't  want  to 
have  anything  to  do  with  you,  I  will  tell  you." 

"  Tell  ahead." 

"  Because  you're  a  thief." 

"  If  you  say  that  again,  I'll  lick  you,"  said  Mike, 
reddening  with  anger. 

"  It's  true.  You  stole  my  basket  of  candy  the 
other  day,  and  that  isn't  the  only  time  you've  been 
caught  stealing." 

"  I'll  give  you  the  worst  licking  you  ever  had. 
Do  you  want  to  fight  ?  "  said  Mike,  flourishing 
his  fist. 

"  No,  I  don't,"  said  Paul.  "  Sometime  when 
I  haven't  a  bundle,  I'll  accommodate  you." 

"  You're  a  coward ! "  sneered  Mike,  gaining 
courage  as  he  saw  Paul  was  not  disposed  for  an 
encounter. 

"  I  don't  think  I  am,"  said  Paul  coolly. 

"  1*11  hold  your  shirt,"  said  Mike's  companion, 
with  a  grin,  "  if  you  want  to  fight." 


90  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

Paul,  however,  did  not  care  to  instrust  the 
shirt  to  a  stranger  of  so  unprepossessing  an  ap- 
pearance. 

He,  therefore,  attempted  to  pass  on.  But  Mike, 
encouraged  by  his  reluctance,  stepped  up  and 
shook  his  fist  within  an  inch  of  Paul's  nose,  calling 
him  at  the  same  time  a  coward.  This  was  too 
much  for  Paul's  self-restraint.  He  dropped  the 
shirt,  and  pitched  into  Mike  in  so  scientific  a  man- 
ner that  the  latter  was  compelled  to  retreat,  and 
finally  to  flee  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  not  without 
having  first  received  several  pretty  hard  blows. 

"  I  don't  think  he  will  meddle  with  me  again," 
said  Paul  to  himself,  as  he  pulled  down  the  sleeves 
of  his  jacket. 

He  walked  back,  and  looked  for  the  shirt  which 
he  had  laid  down  before  commencing  the  combat. 
But  he  looked  in  vain.  Nothing  was  to  be  seen 
of  the  shirt  or  of  Mike's  companion.  Probably 
both  had  disappeared  together. 


CHAPTER  XI 

BARCLAY    &    CO. 

The  loss  of  the  shirt  was  very  vexatious.  It 
was  not  so  much  the  value  of  it  that  Paul  cared 
for,  although  this  was  a  consideration  by  no  means 
to  be  despised  by  one  in  his  circumstances;  but  it 
had  been  lent  as  a  pattern,  and  without  it  his 
mother  would  be  unable  to  make  Mr.  Preston's 
shirts.  As  to  recovering  it,  he  felt  that  there  was 
little  chance  of  this.  Besides  it  would  involve 
delay,  and  his  mother  could  not  afford  to  remain 
idle.  Paul  felt  decidedly  uncomfortable.  Again 
Mike  Donovan  had  done  him  an  injury,  and  this 
time  of  a  more  serious  nature  than  before. 

What  should  he  do? 

There  seemed  but  one  answer  to  this  question. 
He  must  go  back  to  Mr.  Preston,  explain  the 
manner  in  which  he  had  lost  the  shirt,  and  ask  him 
for  another,  promising,  of  course,  to  supply  the 
place  of  the  one  lost.  He  was  not  sure  whether 
Mr.  Preston  would  accept  this  explanation.  He 
might  think  it  was  only  an  attempt  to  defraud  him. 


92  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

But  at  any  rate,  it  seemed  the  only  thing  to  do,  and 
it  must  be  done  at  once.  He  entered  a  passing 
car,  for  it  was  too  late  to  walk. 

"  I  wish  I  had  taken  the  car  down,"  thought 
Paul.  "  Then  I  shouldn't  have  lost  the  shirt." 

But  it  was  too  late  for  regrets  now.  He  must 
do  the  best  that  remained  to  him. 

It  was  nearly  ten  o'clock  when  Paul  once  more 
stood  before  the  door  of  Mr.  Preston's  boarding- 
place.  He  rang  the  bell  and  asked  to  see  him. 

"You  have  been  here  before  this  evening?" 
said  the  servant. 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  you  know  the  room.  You  can  walk 
right  up." 

Paul  went  upstairs  and  knocked  at  Mr.  Pres- 
ton's room.  He  was  bidden  to  come  in,  and  did 
so. 

Mr.  Preston  looked  up  with  surprise. 

"  I  suppose  you  are  surprised  to  see  me,"  said 
Paul  rather  awkwardly. 

"  Why,  yes.  I  did  not  anticipate  that  pleasure 
quite  so  soon,"  said  Mr.  Preston,  smiling. 

"  I  am  afraid  it  won't  be  a  pleasure,  for  I  bring 
bad  news." 

"  Bad  news  ?  "  repeated  the  gentleman,  rather 
startled. 

"  Yes;  I  have  lost  the  shirt  you  gave  me." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  95 

'"  Oh,  is  that  all  ?  "  said  Mr.  Preston,  looking 
relieved.  "  But  how  did  you  lose  it?  " 

"  I  was  walking  home  down  the  Bowery,  when 
two  fellows  met  me.  One  of  them,  Mike  Don- 
ovan, forced  me  into  a  fight.  I  gave  him  a  lick- 
ing," added  Paul,  with  satisfaction;  "but  when 
it  was  all  over,  I  found  the  other  fellow  had  run 
off  with  the  shirt." 

"  I  don't  believe  it  will  fit  him,"  said  Mr.  Pres- 
ton, laughing, 

As  the  speaker  probably  weighed  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds,  it  was,  indeed,  rather  doubtful. 
Paul  couldn't  help  laughing  himself  at  the 
thought. 

"  You  were  certainly  unlucky,"  said  Mr.  Pres- 
ton. "  Did  you  know  the  boy  you  fought  with  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir;  he  once  before  stole  my  stock  of 
candy,  when  I  was  in  the  prize-package  business." 

"  That  was  the  day  we  got  acquainted,"  re- 
marked Mr.  Preston. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  He  doesn't  seem  to  be  a  very  particular  friend 
of  yours." 

"  No;  he  hates  me,  Mike  does,  though  I  don't 
know  why.  But  I  hope  you  won't  be  angry  with 
me  for  losing  the  shirt  ?  " 

"  No ;  it  doesn't  seem  to  be  your  fault,  only  youf 
misfortune." 


94  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  I  was  afraid  you  might  think  I  had  made  up 
the  story,  and  only  wanted  to  get  an  extra  shirt 
from  you." 

"  No,  my  young  friend ;  I  have  some  faith  in 
physiognomy,  and  you  have  an  honest  face.  I 
don't  believe  you  would  deceive  me." 

"  No,  I  wouldn't,"  said  Paul  promptly.  "  If 
you  will  trust  me  with  another  shirt,  mother  will 
make  you  an  extra  one  to  make  up  for  the  one  I 
have  lost." 

"  Certainly  you  shall  have  the  extra  shirt,  but 
you  needn't  supply  the  place  of  the  one  lost." 

"  It  is  only  fair  that  I  should." 

"  That  may  be,  and  I  am  glad  you  made  the 
offer,  but  the  loss  is  of  little  importance  to  me. 
It  was  no  fault  of  yours  that  you  lost  it,  and  you 
shall  not  suffer  for  it." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  sir,"  said  Paul  gratefully. 

"  Only  just,  Paul." 

Mr.  Preston  went  to  the  bureau,  and  drew  out 
another  shirt,  which  he  handed  to  Paul. 

"  Let  me  suggest,  my  young  friend,"  he  said, 
"that  you  ride  home  this  time.  It  is  late,  and 
you  might  have  another  encounter  with  your 
friend.  I  should  like  to  see  him  with  the  shirt 
on,"  and  Mr.  Preston  laughed  heartily  at  the 
thought. 

Paul  decided  to  follow  his  patron's  advice.    He 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  9$ 

had  no  idea  of  running  any  more  risk  in  the  mat- 
ter. He  accordingly  walked  to  Fourth  Avenue, 
and  got  on  board  the  car. 

It  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  when  he  reached 
home.  As  it  was  never  his  habit  to  stay  out  late, 
his  mother  had  become  alarmed  at  his  long 
absence. 

"What  kept  you  so  late,  Paul?"  she  asked. 

"  I'll  tell  you  pretty  soon,  mother.  Here's  the 
shirt  that  is  to  serve  as  a  pattern.  Can  you  cut 
out  the  new  shirts  by  it?  " 

Mrs.  Hoffman  examined  it  attentively. 

"Yes,"  she  said;  "there  will  be  no  difficulty 
about  that.  Mr.  Preston  must  be  a  pretty  large 
man." 

"Yes,  he  is  big  enough  for  an  alderman;  but 
he  is  very  kind  and  considerate,  and  I  like  him. 
You  shall  judge  for  yourself  when  I  tell  you  what 
happened  this  evening." 

It  will  not  be  necessary  to  tell  Paul's  adventure 
over  again.  His  mother  listened  with  pardon- 
able indignation  against  Mike  Donovan  and  his 
companion. 

"  I  hope  you  won't  have  anything  to  do  with 
that  bad  boy,  Paul,"  she  said. 

"  I  shan't,  if  I  can  help  it,"  said  Paul.  "  I 
didn't  want  to  speak  to  him  to-night,  but  I  couldn't 
help  myself.  Oh,  I  forgot  to  say,  when  half  the 


96  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

shirts  are  ready,  I  am  to  take  them  to  Mr.  Pres- 
ton." 

"  I  think  I  can  make  one  a  day." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  working  so  steadily, 
mother.  You  will  be  well  paid,  you  know." 

"  That  is  true ;  and  for  that  reason  I  shall  work 
more  cheerfully.  I  wish  I  could  get  paid  as  well 
for  all  my  work." 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Preston  will  recommend  you  to 
his  friends,  and  you  can  get  more  work  that  way." 

"  I  wish  I  could." 

"  I  will  mention  it  to  him,  when  I  carry  back 
the  last  half  dozen." 

"  Is  he  going  to  send  the  cloth  ?  " 

"  I  nearly  forgot  that,  too.  I  have  an  order  on 
Barclay  &  Co.  for  the  necessary  amount  of  cloth. 
I  can  go  up  there  to-morrow  morning  and  get  it." 

"  That  will  take  you  from  your  work,  Paul." 

"  Well,  I  can  close  up  for  a  couple  of  hours." 

"  I  don't  think  that  will  be  necessary.  I  will 
go  up  myself  and  present  the  order,  and  get  them 
to  send  it  home  for  me." 

"Will  they  do  that?" 

"  It  is  their  custom.  Or,  if  the  bundle  isn't  too 
large,  I  can  bring  it  home  myself  in  the  car." 

"  That's  all  right,  then.  And  now,  mother,  as 
it's  past  eleven  o'clock,  I  think  we  may  as  well 
both  go  to  bed." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  97 

The  next  day  Paul  went  as  usual  to  his  business, 
and  Mrs.  Hoffman,  after  clearing  away  the  break- 
fast, put  on  her  bonnet  and  shawl,  and  prepared 
to  go  for  the  materials  for  the  shirts. 

The  retail  store  of  Barclay  &  Co.  is  of  great 
size,  and  ranks  among  the  most  important  in  New 
York.  It  was  not  so  well  filled  when  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man entered  it  as  it  would  be  later.  She  was  di- 
rected to  the  proper  counter,  where  she  presented 
the  order,  signed  by  Mr.  Preston.  As  he  was  a 
customer  of  long  standing,  there  was  no  difficulty 
about  filling  the  order.  A  bundle  was  made  up, 
which,  as  it  contained  the  materials  for  twelve 
shirts,  necessarily  was  of  considerable  size. 

"  Here  is  your  bundle,  ma'am,"  said  the 
clerk. 

Mrs.  Hoffman's  strength  was  slender,  and  she 
did  not  feel  able  to  carry  the  heavy  bundle  offered 
her.  Even  if  she  took  the  car,  she  would  be 
obliged  to  carry  it  a  portion  of  the  way,  and.  she 
felt  that  it  would  overtask  her  strength. 

"  Don't  you  send  bundles?  "  she  asked. 

"  Sometimes,"  said  the  clerk,  looking  super- 
ciliously at  the  modest  attire  of  the  poor  widow, 
and  mentally  deciding  that  she  was  not  entitled  to 
much  consideration.  Had  she  been  richly  dressed, 
he  would  have  been  very  obsequious,  and  insisted 
on  sending  home,  the  smallest  parcel.  But  there 


98  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

are  many  who  have  two  rules  of  conduct,  one  for 
the  rich,  and  quite  a  different  one  for  the  poor, 
and  among  these  was  the  clerk  who  was  attending 
upon  Mrs.  Hoffman. 

"  Then,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman,  "  I  should  like 
to  have  you  send  this." 

"  It's  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  send  every- 
thing," said  the  clerk  impertinently. 

"This  bundle  is  too  heavy  for  me  to  carry," 
said  the  widow  deprecatingly. 

"  I  suppose  we  can  send  it,"  said  the  clerk  ill- 
naturedly,  "  if  you  insist  upon  it." 

Meanwhile,  though  he  had  not  observed  it,  his 
employer  had  approached,  and  heard  the  last  part 
of  the  colloquy.  He  was  considered  by  some  as  a 
hard  man,  but  there  was  one  thing  he  always  re- 
quired of  those  in  his  employ;  that  was  to  treat 
all  purchasers  with  uniform  courtesy,  whatever 
their  circumstances. 

"  Are  you  objecting  to  sending  this  lady's  bun- 
dle? "  said  Mr.  Barclay  sternly. 

The  clerk  looked  up  in  confusion. 

"  I  told  her  we  would  send  it,"  he  stammered. 

"  I  have  heard  what  passed.  You  have  been 
deficient  in  politeness.  If  this  happens  again,  you 
leave  my  employ." 

"  I  will  take  your  address,"  said  the  clerk,  in  a 
subdued  tone. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  99 

Mrs.  Hoffman  gave  it,  and  left  the  store,  thank- 
ful for  the  interference  of  the  great  merchant, 
who  had  given  his  clerk  a  lesson  which  the  latter, 
as  he  valued  his  situation,  found  it  advisable  to 
bear  in  mind. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE    BARREL    THIEF 

While  Mike  Donovan  was  engaged  in  his  con- 
test with  Paul,  his  companion  had  quietly  walked 
off  with  the  shirt.  It  mattered  very  little  to  him 
which  party  conquered,  as  long  as  he  carried  off 
the  spoils.  His  conduct  in  the  premises  was  quite 
as  unsatisfactory  to  Mike  as  it  was  to  Paul. 
When  Mike  found  himself  in  danger  of  being 
overpowered,  he  appealed  to  his  companion  for 
assistance,  and  was  incensed  to  see  him  coolly  dis- 
regarding the  appeal,  and  selfishly  appropriating 
the  booty. 

"  The  mane  thafe ! "  he  exclaimed,  after  the 
fight  was  over,  and  he  was  compelled  to  retreat. 
"  He  let  me  be  bate,  and  wouldn't  lift  his  finger 
to  help  me.  I'd  like  to  put  a  head  on  him,  I 
would." 

Just  at  that  moment  Mike  felt  quite  as  angry 
with  his  friend,  Jerry  McGaverty,  as  with  his 
late  opponent. 

"  The  shirt's  mine,  fair,"  he  said  to  himself, 
"  and  I'll  make  Jerry  give  it  to  me." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  101 

But  Jerry  had  disappeared,  and  Mike  didn't 
know  where  to  look  for  him.  In  fact,  he  had 
entered  a  dark  alleyway,  and,  taking  the  shirt 
from  the  paper  in  which  it  was  wrapped,  pro- 
ceeded to  examine  his  prize. 

The  unusual  size  struck  him. 

"  By  the  powers,"  he  muttered,  "  it's  big  enough 
for  me  great-grandfather  and  all  his  children.  I 
wouldn't  like  to  pay  for  the  cloth  it  tuck  to  make 
it.  But  I'll  wear  it,  anyway." 

Jerry  was  not  particular  as  to  an  exact  fit.  His 
nether  garments  were  several  sizes  too  large  for 
him,  and  the  shirt  would  complete  his  costume 
appropriately.  He  certainly  did  need  a  new  shirt, 
for  the  one  he  had  on  was  the  only  article  of  the 
kind  he  possessed,  and  was  so  far  gone  that  its 
best  days,  if  it  ever  had  any,  appeared  to  date 
back  to  a  remote  antiquity.  It  had  been  bought 
cheap  in  Baxter  Street,  its  previous  history  being 
unknown. 

Jerry  decided  to  make  the  change  at  once.  The 
alley  afforded  a  convenient  place  for  making  the 
transfer.  He  accordingly  pulled  off  the  ragged 
shirt  he  wore  and  put  on  the  article  he  had  pur- 
loined from  Paul.  The  sleeves  were  too  long, 
but  he  turned  up  the  cuffs,  and  the  ample  body 
he  tucked  inside  his  pants. 

"  It  fits  me  too  much,"  soliloquized  Jerry,  as  he 


102  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

surveyed  himself  after  the  exchange.  "  I  could 
let  out  the  half  of  it,  and  have  enough  for  meself. 
Anyhow,  it's  clane,  and  it  came  chape  enough." 

He  came  out  of  the  alley,  leaving  his  old  shirt 
behind  him.  Even  if  it  had  been  worth  carrying* 
away,  Jerry  saw  no  use  in  possessing  more  than 
one  shirt.  It  was  his  habit  to  wear  one  until  it 
was  ready  to  drop  off  from  him,  and  then  get 
another  if  he  could.  There  is  a  practical  con- 
venience in  this  arrangement,  though  there  are 
also  objections  which  will  readily  occur  to  the 
reader. 

On  the  whole,  though  the  shirt  fitted  him  too 
much,  as  he  expressed  it,  he  regarded  himself 
complacently. 

The  superabundant  material  gave  the  impres- 
sion of  liberal  expenditure  and  easy  circumstances, 
since  a  large  shirt  naturally  costs  more  than  a 
small  one.  So  Jerry  as  he  walked  along  the 
Bowery  assumed  a  jaunty  air,  precisely  such  as 
some  of  my  readers  may  when  they  have  a  new 
suit  to  display.  His  new  shirt  was  quite  con- 
spicuous, since  he  was  encumbered  neither  with 
vest  nor  coat. 

Mike,  feeling  sore  over  his  defeat,  met  Jerry 
the  next  morning  on  Chatham  Street.  His  quick 
eye  detected  the  improved  state  of  his  friend's 
apparel,  and  his  indignation  rose,  as  he  reflected 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  103 

that  Jerry  had  pocketed  the  profits  while  the  hard 
knocks  had  been  his. 

"Jerry!"  he  called  out. 

Jerry  did  not  see  fit  to  heed  the  call.  He  was 
sensible  that  Mike  had  something  to  complain  of, 
and  he  was  in  no  hurry  to  meet  his  reproaches. 

"  Jerry  McGaverty !  "  called  Mike,  coming  near, 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  Mike,  is  it  ?  "  answered  Jerry, 
unable  longer  to  keep  up  the  pretense  of  not  hear- 
ing. 

"  Yes,  it's  me,"  said  Mike.  "  What  made  you 
leave  me  for  last  night?  " 

"  I  didn't  want  to  interfere  betwane  two  gmtle- 
men,"  said  Jerry,  with  a  grin.  "  Did  you  mash 
him,  Mike?" 

"  No,"  said  Mike  sullenly,  "  he  mashed  me. 
Why  didn't  you  help  me?  " 

"  I  thought  you  was  bating  him,  so,  as  I  had 
some  business  to  attind  to,  I  went  away." 

"  You  went  away  wid  the  shirt." 

"  Yes,  I  took  it  by  mistake.  Ain't  it  an  iligant 
fit?" 

"  It's  big  enough  for  two  of  you." 

"  Maybe  I'll  grow  to  it  in  time,"  said  Jerry. 

"  And  how  much  are  you  goin'  to  give  me  for 
my  share?"  demanded  Mike. 

"  Say  that  ag'in,"  said  Jerry. 

Mike  repeated  it. 


104  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  I  thought,  maybe,  I  didn't  hear  straight.  It 
ain't  yours  at  all.  Didn't  I  take  it  ?  " 

"  You  wouldn't  have  got  it  if  I  hadn't  fit  with 
Paul." 

"  That  ain't  nothin'  to  me,"  said  Jerry.  "  The 
shirt's  mine,  and  I'll  kape  it." 

Mike  felt  strongly  tempted  to  "  put  a  head  on  " 
Jerry,  whatever  that  may  mean;  but,  as  Jerry  was 
a  head  taller  already,  the  attempt  did  not  seem 
quite  prudent.  He  indulged  in  some  forcible 
remarks,  which,  however,  did  not  disturb  Jerry's 
equanimity. 

"  I'll  give  you  my  old  shirt,  Mike,"  he  said, 
"if  you  can  find  it.  I  left  it  in  an  alley  near  the 
Old  Bowery." 

"  I  don't  want  the  dirty  rag,"  said  Mike  con- 
temptuously. 

Finally  a  compromise  was  effected,  Jerry  offer- 
to  help  Mike  on  the  next  occasion,  and  leave  the 
spoils  in  his  hands. 

I  have  to  chronicle  another  adventure  of 
Jerry's,  in  which  he  was  less  fortunate  than  he  had 
been  in  the  present  case.  He  was  a  genuine  vaga- 
bond, and  lived  by  his  wits,  being  too  lazy  to 
devote  himself  to  any  regular  street  employment, 
as  boot-blacking  or  selling  newspapers.  Occa- 
sionally he  did  a  little  work  at  each  of  these, 
but  regular,  persistent  industry  was  out  of  his 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  105 

line.  He  was  a  drone  by  inclination,  and  a  de- 
cided enemy  to  work.  On  the  subject  of  honesty 
his  principles  were  far  from  strict.  If  he  could 
appropriate  what  did  not  belong  to  him  he  was 
ready  to  do  so  without  scruple.  This  propen- 
sity had  several  times  brought  him  into  trouble, 
and  he  had  more  than  once  been  sent  to  reside 
temporarily  on  Blackwell's  Island,  from  which  he 
had  returned  by  no  means  improved. 

Mike  was  not  quite  so  much  of  a  vagabond  as 
his  companion.  He  could  work  at  times,  though 
he  did  not  like  it,  and  once  pursued  the  vocation  of 
a  bootblack  for  several  months  with  fair  success. 
But  Jerry's  companionship  was  doing  him  no 
good,  and  it  seemed  likely  that  eventually  he 
would  become  quite  as  shiftless  as  Jerry  himself. 

Jerry,  having  no  breakfast,  strolled  down  to 
one  of  the  city  markets.  He  frequently  found 
an  opportunity  of  stealing  here,  and  was  now  in 
search  of  such  a  chance.  He  was  a  dexterous  and 
experienced  barrel  thief,  a  term  which  it  may  be 
necessary  to  explain.  Barrels,  then,  have  a  com- 
mercial value,  and  coopers  will  generally  pay 
twenty-five  cents  for  one  in  good  condition.  This 
is  enough,  in  the  eyes  of  many  a  young  vagabond, 
to  pay  for  the  risk  incurred  in  stealing  one. 

Jerry  prowled  round  the  market  for  some  time, 
seeking  a  good  opportunity  to  walk  off  with  art 


106  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

apple  or  banana,  or  something  eatable.  But  the 
guardians  of  the  stands  seemed  unusually  vigilant, 
and  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  attempt,  as 
involving  too  great  risk.  Jerry  was  hungry,  and 
hunger  is  an  uncomfortable  feeling.  He  began 
to  wish  he  had  remained  satisfied  with  his  old 
shirt,  dirty  as  it  was,  and  carried  the  new  one  to 
some  of  the  Baxter  Street  dealers,  from  whom 
he  could  perhaps  have  got  fifty  cents  for  it.  Now, 
fifty  cents  would  have  paid  for  a  breakfast  and  a 
couple  of  cigars  and  those  just  now  would  have 
made  Jerry  happy. 

"  What  a  fool  I  was  not  to  think  of  it! "  he 
said.  "  The  old  shirt  would  do  me,  and  I  could 
"buy  a  bully  breakfast  wid  the  money  I'd  get  for 
this." 

Just  at  this  moment  he  espied  an  empty  barrel 
— a  barrel  apparently  quite  new  and  in  an  un- 
guarded position.  He  resolved  to  take  it,  but  the 
affair  must  be  managed  slyly. 

He  lounged  up  to  the  barrel,  and  leaned  upon 
it  indolently.  Then,  in  apparent  unconsciousness, 
lie  began  to  turn  it,  gradually  changing  its  posi- 
tion. If  observed,  he  could  easily  deny  all  felon- 
ious intentions.  This  he  kept  up  till  he  got  round 
the  corner,  when,  glancing  around  to  see  if  he 
was  observed,  he  quickly  lifted  it  on  his  shoulder 
and  marched  off. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  107 

All  this  happened  without  his  being  observed 
by  the  owner  of  the  barrel.  But  the  policeman, 
who  chanced  to  be  going  his  rounds,  had  been  a 
witness  of  Jerry's  little  game.  He  remained  quiet 
till  Jerry's  intentions  became  evident,  then  walked 
quietly  up  and  put  his  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Put  down  that  barrel ! "  he  said  authorita- 
tively. 

Jerry  had  been  indulging  in  visions  of  the 
breakfast  he  would  get  with  the  twenty-five  cents 
he  expected  to  obtain  for  the  barrel,  and  the  inter- 
ruption was  not  an  agreeable  one.  But  he  deter- 
mined to  brazen  it  out  if  possible. 

"  What  for  will  I  put  it  down  ?  "  he  said. 

"  Because  you  have  stolen  it,  that's  why." 

"  No,"  said  Jerry,  "  I'm  carrying  it  round  to 
my  boss.  It's  his." 

"  Where  do  you  work?  " 

"  In  Fourth  Street,"  said  Jerry  at  random. 

"What  number?" 

"  No.  136." 

"  Then  your  boss  will  have  to  get  someone  in 
your  place,  for  you  will  have  to  come  with  me." 

"What  for?" 

"  I  saw  you  steal  the  barrel.  You're  a  barrel 
thief,  and  this  isn't  the  first  time  you've  been 
caught  at  it.  Carry  back  the  barrel  to  the  place 
you  took  it  from  and  then  come  with  me." 


io8  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

Jerry  tried  to  beg  off,  but  without  avail. 

At  that  moment  Mike  Donovan  lounged  up. 
When  he  saw  his  friend  in  custody,  he  felt  a 
degree  of  satisfaction,  remembering  the  trick 
Jerry  had  played  on  him. 

"  Where  are  you  goin',  Jerry?  "  he  asked  with 
a  grin,  as  he  passed  him.  "  Did  ye  buy  that  bar- 
rel to  kape  your  shirt  in?  " 

Jerry  scowled,  but  thought  it  best  not  to  an- 
swer, lest  his  unlawful  possession  of  the  shirt 
might  also  be  discovered,  and  lead  to  a  longer 
sentence. 

"  He's  goin'  down  to  the  Island  to  show  his 
new  shirt,"  thought  Mike  with  a  grin.  "  Maybe 
he'll  set  the  fashion  there." 

Mike  was  right.  Jerry  was  sent  to  the  Island 
for  two  months,  there  introducing  Mr.  Preston's 
shirt  to  company  little  dreamed  of  by  its  original 
proprietor. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

OUT    OF    BUSINESS 

The  next  day  Mrs.  Hoffman  commenced  work 
upon  Mr.  Preston's  shirts.  She  worked  with 
much  more  cheerfulness  now  that  she  was  sure 
of  obtaining  a  liberal  price  for  her  labor.  As  the 
shirts  were  of  extra  size,  she  found  herself  un- 
able to  finish  one  in  a  day,  as  she  had  formerly 
done,  but  had  no  difficulty  in  making  four  in  a 
week.  This,  however,  gave  her  five  dollars 
weekly,  instead  of  a  dollar  and  a  half  as  formerly. 
Now,  five  dollars  may  not  seem  a  very  large  sum 
to  some  of  my  young  readers,  but  to  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man it  seemed  excellent  compensation  for  a  week's 
work. 

"  If  I  could  only  earn  as  much  every  week,"  she 
said  to  Paul  on  Saturday  evening,  "  I  should  feel 
quite  rich." 

"  Your  work  will  last  three  weeks,  mother, 
and  perhaps  at  the  end  of  that  time  some  of  Mr. 
Preston's  friends  may  wish  to  employ  you." 

"  I  hope  they  will." 


i  io  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  How  much  do  you  think  I  have  made?  "  con- 
tinued Paul. 

"  Six  dollars." 

"  Seven  dollars  and  a  half." 

"  So  between  us  we  have  earned  over  twelve 
dollars." 

"  I  wish  I  could  earn  something,"  said  little 
Jimmy,  looking  up  from  his  drawing. 

"  There's  time  enough  for  that,  Jimmy.  You 
are  going  to  be  a  great  artist  one  of  these  days." 

"  Do  you  really  think  I  shall?  "  asked  the  little 
boy  wistfully. 

"  I  think  there  is  a  good  chance  of  it.  Let  me 
see  what  you  are  drawing." 

The  picture  upon  which  Jimmy  was  at  work 
represented  a  farmer  standing  upright  in  a  cart, 
drawn  by  a  sturdy,  large-framed  horse.  The 
copy  bore  a  close  resemblance  to  the  original, 
even  in  the  most  difficult  portions — the  face  and 
expression,  both  in  the  man  and  the  horse,  being 
carefully  reproduced. 

"  This  is  wonderful,  Jimmy,"  exclaimed  Paul, 
in  real  surprise.  "  Didn't  you  find  it  hard  to  get 
the  man's  face  just  right?  " 

"Rather  hard,"  said  Jimmy;  "I  had  to  be 
careful,  but  I  like  best  the  parts  where  I  have  to 
take  the  most  pains." 

"I  wish  I  could  afford  to  hire  a  teacher  for 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  in 

you,"  said  Paul.  "  Perhaps,  if  mother  and  I 
keep  on  earning  so  much  money,  we  shall  be  able 
to,  sometime." 

By  the  middle  of  the  next  week  six  of  the  shirts 
were  finished,  and  Paul,  as  had  been  agreed  upon, 
carried  them  up  to  Mr.  Preston.  He  was  for- 
tunate enough  to  find  him  at  home. 

"I  hope  they  will  suit  you,"  said  Paul. 

"  I  can  see  that  the  sewing  is  excellent,"  said 
Mr.  Preston,  examining  them.  "  As  to  the  fit,, 
I  can  tell  better  after  I  have  tried  one  on." 

"  Mother  made  them  just  like  the  one  you  sent; 
but  if  there  is  anything  wrong,  she  will,  of  course, 
be  ready  to  alter  them." 

"  If  they  are  just  like  the  pattern,  they  will  be 
sure  to  suit  me. 

"  And  now,  my  young  friend,"  he  added,  "  let 
me  know  how  you  are  getting  on  in  your  own 
business." 

"  I  am  making  a  dollar  a  day,  sometimes  a  little 
more." 

"  That  is  very  good." 

"  Yes,  sir;  but  it  won't  last  long." 

"  I  believe  you  told  me  that  the  stand  belonged 
to  someone  else." 

"  Yes,  sir;  I  am  only  tending  it  in  his  sickness; 
but  he  is  getting  better,  and  when  he  gets  about 
again,  I  shall  be  thrown  out  of  business." 


U2  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  But  you  don't  look  like  one  who  would  remain 
idle  long." 

"  No,  sir;  I  shall  be  certain  to  find  something 
to  do,  if  it  is  only  blacking  boots." 

"  Have  you  ever  been  in  that  business  ?  " 

"  I've  tried  about  everything,"  said  Paul,  laugh- 
ing. 

"  I  suppose  you  wouldn't  enjoy  boot-blacking 
much  ?  " 

"  No,  sir;  but  I  would  rather  do  that  than  be 
earning  nothing." 

"  You  are  quite  right  there,  and  I  am  glad  you 
have  no  false  shame  in  the  matter.  There  are 
plenty  who  have.  For  instance,  a  stout,  broad- 
shouldered  young  fellow  applied  to  me  this  morn- 
ing for  a  clerkship.  He  said  he  had  come  to  the 
city  in  search  of  employment,  and  had  nearly 
expended  all  his  money  without  finding  anything 
to  do.  I  told  him  I  couldn't  give  him  a  clerkship, 
but  was  in  want  of  a  porter.  I  offered  him  the 
place  at  two  dollars  per  day.  He  drew  back,  and 
said  he  should  not  be  willing  to  accept  a  porter's 
place." 

"  He  was  very  foolish,"  said  Paul. 

"  So  I  thought.  I  told  him  that  if  such  were 
his  feelings,  I  could  not  help  him.  Perhaps  he 
may  regret  his  refusal,  when  he  is  reduced  to  his 
last  penny.  By  the  way,  whenever  you  have  to 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  113 

give  up  your  stand,  you  may  come  to  me,  and  I 
will  see  what  I  can  do  for  you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  And  now  about  these  shirts;  I  believe  I  agreed 
to  pay  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  each." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  As  they  are  of  extra  size,  I  think  I  ought  to 
pay  twelve  shillings  instead  of  ten." 

"  My  mother  thinks  herself  well  paid  at  ten 
shillings." 

"  There  must  be  a  great  deal  of  work  about 
one.  Twelve  shillings  are  none  too  much,"  and 
Mr.  Preston  placed  the  sum  of  nine  dollars  in 
Paul's  hand. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Paul  gratefully.  "  My 
mother  will  consider  herself  very  lucky." 

When  Mrs.  Hoffman  received  from  Paul  a  dol- 
lar and  a  half  more  than  she  anticipated,  she  felt 
in  unusually  good  spirits.  She  had  regretted  the 
loss  of  her  former  poorly  paid  work,  but  it  ap- 
peared that  her  seeming  misfortune  had  only  pre- 
pared the  way  for  greater  prosperity.  The  trou- 
ble was  that  it  would  not  last.  Still,  it  would 
tide  over  the  dull  time,  and  when  this  job  was 
over,  she  might  be  able  to  resume  her  old  em- 
ployment. At  any  rate,  while  the  future  seemed 
uncertain,  she  did  not  feel  like  increasing  her  ex- 
penditures on  account  of  her  increased  earnings, 


ii4  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

but  laid  carefully  away  three-quarters  of  her  re- 
ceipts to  use  hereafter  in  case  of  need. 

Meanwhile,  Paul  continued  to  take  care  of 
George  Barry's  business.  He  had  been  obliged  to 
renew  the  stock,  his  large  sales  having  materially 
reduced  it.  Twice  a  week  he  went  up  to  see  his 
principal  to  report  sales.  George  Barry  could  not 
conceal  the  surprise  he  felt  at  Paul's  success. 

"  I  never  thought  you  would  do  so  well,"  he 
said.  "  You  beat  me." 

"  I  suppose  it's  because  I  like  it,"  said  PauL 
"  Then,  as  I  get  only  half  the  profits,  I  have  to- 
work  the  harder  to  make  fair  wages." 

"  It  is  fortunate  for  my  son  that  he  found  you 
to  take  his  place,"  said  Mrs.  Barry.  "  He  could 
not  afford  to  lose  all  the  income  from  his  busi- 
ness." 

"  It  was  a  good  thing  for  both  of  us,"  said 
Paul.  "  I  was  looking  for  a  job  just  when  he  fell 
sick." 

"  What  had  you  been  doing  before  ?  " 

"  I  was  in  the  prize-package  business,  but  that 
got  played  out,  and  I  was  a  gentleman  at  large, 
seeking  for  a  light,  genteel  business  that  wouldn't 
require  much  capital." 

"  I  shall  be  able  to  take  my  place  pretty  soon 
now,"  said  the  young  man.  "  I  might  go  to-mor- 
row, but  mother  thinks  it  imprudent." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  115 

"  Better  get  back  your  strength  first,  George/' 
said  his  mother  anxiously,  "  or  you  may  fall  sick 
again." 

But  her  son  was  impatient  of  confinement,  and 
anxious  to  get  to  work  again.  So,  two  days 
afterward,  about  the  middle  of  the  forenoon, 
Paul  was  surprised  by  seeing  George  Barry  get 
out  of  a  Broadway  omnibus,  just  in  front  of  the 
stand. 

"Can  I  sell  you  a  necktie,  Mr.  Barry?"  he 
asked,  in  a  joke. 

"  I  almost  feel  like  a  stranger,"  said  Barry, 
"  it's  so  long  since  I  have  been  here." 

"  Do  you  feel  strong  enough  to  take  charge 
now?"  asked  Paul. 

"  I  am  not  so  strong  as  I  was,  and  the  walk 
from  our  rooms  would  tire  me;  but  I  think  if  I 
rode  both  ways  for  the  present  I  shall  be  able  to 
get  along." 

"  Then  you  won't  need  me  any  longer?  " 

"  I  would  like  to  have  you  stay  with  me  to-day. 
I  don't  know  how  I  shall  hold  out." 

"All  right!     I'll  stop." 

George  Barry  remained  in  attendance  the  rest 
of  the  day.  He  found  that  his  strength  had  so  far 
returned  that  he  should  be  able  to  manage  alone 
hereafter,  and  he  told  Paul  so. 

"  I  am  glad  you  are  well  again,  George,"  said 


u6  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

Paul.  "  It  must  have  been  dull  work  staying  at 
home  sick." 

"  Yes,  it  was  dull;  but  I  felt  more  comfortable 
from  knowing  that  you  were  taking  my  place.  If 
I  get  sick  again  I  will  send  for  you." 

"I  hope  you  won't  get  sick;  but  if  you  do,  I 
will  do  what  I  can  to  help  you." 

So  the  two  parted  on  the  best  of  terms.  Each 
had  been  of  service  to  the  other,  and  neither  had 
cause  to  complain. 

"  Well,"  said  Paul  to  himself,  "  I  am  out  of 
work  again.  What  shall  I  go  at  next  ?  " 

It  was  six  o'clock,  and  there  was  nothing  to  be 
done  till  the  morrow.  He  went  slowly  home- 
ward, revolving  this  subject  in  his  mind.  He 
knew  that  he  need  not  remain  idle.  He  could 
black  boots  or  sell  newspapers,  if  nothing  better 
offered,  and  he  thought  it  quite  possible  that  he 
might  adopt  the  latter  business,  for  a  few  days 
at  least.  He  had  not  forgotten  Mr.  Preston's  in- 
junction to  let  him  know  when  he  got  out  of  busi- 
ness; but,  as  the  second  half  dozen  shirts  would  be 
ready  in  three  or  four  days  he  preferred  to  wait 
till  then,  and  not  make  a  special  call  on  Mr.  Pres- 
ton. He  had  considerable  independence  of  feel- 
ing, and  didn't  like  to  put  himself  in  the  position 
of  one  asking  a  favor,  though  he  had  no  objection 
to  accept  one  voluntarily  offered. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  117 

"  Well,  mother,"  he  said,  entering  his  humble 
home,  "  I  am  out  of  business." 

"  Has  George  recovered,  then?  " 

"  Yes,  he  was  at  the  stand  to-day,  but  wanted 
me  to  stay  with  him  till  this  evening." 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  sorry !  "  said  Jimmy. 

"  Sorry  that  George  has  got  well  ?  For  shame, 
Jimmy !  " 

"  No,  I  don't  mean  that,  Paul.  I  am  sorry  you 
are  out  of  work." 

"  I  shall  find  plenty  to  do,  Jimmy.  Perhaps 
Mr.  Stewart  will  take  me  in  as  senior  partner,  if  I 
ask  him." 

"  I  don't  think  he  will,"  said  Jimmy,  laughing. 

"  Then  perhaps  I  can  get  a  few  scholars  in 
drawing.  Can't  you  recommend  me  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  not,  Paul,  unless  you  have  im- 
proved a  good  deal." 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE    DIAMOND    RING 

Paul  was  up  betimes  the  next  morning.  He 
had  made  up  his  mind  for  a  few  days,  at  least,  to 
sell  newspapers,  and  it  was  necessary  in  this  busi- 
ness to  begin  the  day  early.  He  took  a  dollar  with 
him,  and  invested  a  part  of  it  in  a  stock  of  dailies. 
He  posted  himself  in  Printing  House  Square,  and 
began  to  look  out  for  customers.  Being  an  enter- 
prising boy,  he  was  sure  to  meet  with  fair  suc- 
cess in  any  business  which  he  undertook.  So  it 
happened  that  at  ten  o'clock  he  had  sold  out  his 
stock  of  papers,  and  realized  a  profit  of  fifty  cents. 

It  was  getting  late  for  morning  papers,  and 
there  was  nothing  left  to  do  till  the  issue  of  the 
first  edition  of  the  afternoon  papers. 

"  I'll  go  down  and  see  how  George  Barry  is 
getting  along,"  thought  Paul. 

He  crossed  Broadway,  and  soon  reached  the 
familiar  stand. 

"  How's  business,  George  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Fair,"  said  Barry.     "  I've  sold  four  ties." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  119 

"  How  do  you  feel  ?  " 

"  I'm  not  so  strong  as  I  was,  yet.  I  get  tired 
more  easily.  I  don't  think  I  shall  stay  in  this 
business  long." 

"  You  don't  ?     What  will  you  do  then  ?  " 

"  I've  got  a  chance  in  Philadelphia,  or  I  shall 
have  by  the  first  of  the  month." 

"  What  sort  of  a  chance?  " 

"  Mother  got  a  letter  yesterday  from  a  cousin 
of  hers  who  has  a  store  on  Chestnut  Street.  He 
offers  to  take  me  as  a  clerk,  and  give  me  ten  dol- 
lars a  week  at  first,  and  more  after  a  while." 

"  That's  a  good  offer.  I  should  like  to  get  one 
like  it." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,  Paul,  you'd  better  buy  out 
my  stand.  You  know  how  to  sell  ties,  and  can 
make  money." 

"  There's  only  one  objection,  George." 

"What's  that?" 

"  I  haven't  got  any  capital." 

"  It  don't  need  much." 

"  How  much  ?  " 

"  I'll  sell  out  all  my  stock  at  cost  price." 

"  How  much  do  you  think  there  is?  " 

"  About  twenty-five  dollars'  worth.  Then 
there  is  the  frame,  which  is  worth,  say  ten  dollars, 
making  thirty-five  in  all.  That  isn't  much." 

"It's  more  than  I've  got.     I'll  tell  you  what 


120  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

I'll  do.  I'll  take  it,  and  pay  you  five  dollars  down, 
and  the  rest  in  one  month." 

"  I  would  take  your  offer,  Paul,  but  I  need  all 
the  money  now.  It  will  be  expensive  moving 
to  Philadelphia,  and  I  shall  want  all  I  can 
get." 

"  I  wish  I  could  buy  you  out,"  said  Paul 
thoughtfully. 

"  Can't  you  borrow  the  money?  " 

"  How  soon  do  you  want  to  give  up  the 
stand  ?  " 

"  It's  the  seventeenth  now.  I  should  like  to  get 
rid  of  it  by  the  twenty-second." 

"  I'll  see  what  I  can  do.  Just  keep  it  for  me 
till  to-morrow." 

"  All  right." 

Paul  walked  home,  revolving  in  his  mind  this 
unexpected  opportunity.  He  had  made,  as 
George  Barry's  agent,  a  dollar  a  day,  though  he 
received  only  half  the  profits.  If  he  were  himself 
the  proprietor,  and  did  equally  well,  he  could  make 
twelve  dollars  a  week.  The  calculation  almost 
took  away  his  breath.  Twelve  dollars  a  week 
would  make  about  fifty  dollars  a  month.  It 
would  enable  him  to  contribute  more  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  family,  and  save  up  money  be- 
sides. 

But  the  problem  was  how  to  raise  the  neces- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  121 

sary  money.  If  Paul  had  been  a  railroad  corpo- 
ration, he  might  have  issued  first  mortgage  bonds 
at  a  high  rate  of  interest,  payable  in  gold,  and 
negotiated  them  through  some  leading  banker. 
But  he  was  not  much  versed  in  financial  schemes, 
and  therefore  was  at  a  loss.  The  only  wealthy 
friend  he  had  was  Mr.  Preston,  and  he  did  not 
like  to  apply  to  him  till  he  had  exhausted  other 
ways  and  means. 

"  What  makes  you  so  sober,  Paul  ?  "  'asked  his 
mother,  as  he  entered  the  room.  "  You  are  home 
early." 

"  Yes,  I  sold  all  my  papers,  and  thought  I 
would  take  an  early  dinner,  so  as  to  be  on  hand  in 
time  for  the  first  afternoon  papers." 

"  Don't  you  feel  well  ?  " 

"Tiptop;  but  I've  had  a  good  offer,  and  I'm 
thinking  whether  I  can  accept  it." 

"What  sort  of  an  offer?" 

"  George  Barry  is  anxious  to  sell  out  his 
stand." 

"  How  much  does  he  ask  ?  n 

"  Thirty-five  dollars." 

"Is  it  worth  that?" 

"  Yes,  it's  worth  all  that,  and  more,  too.  If  I 
had  it  I  could  make  two  dollars  a  day.  But  I 
haven't  got  thirty-five  dollars." 

"  I  can  let  you  have  nine,  Paul.    I  had  a  little 


122  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

saved  up,  and  I  haven't  touched  the  money  Mr. 
Preston  paid  me  for  the  shirts." 

"  I've  got  five  myself,  but  that  will  only  make 
fourteen." 

"  Won't  he  wait  for  the  rest?  " 

"  No,  he's  going  to  Philadelphia  early  next 
week,  and  wants  the  whole  in  cash." 

"  It  would  be  a  pity  to  lose  such  a  good  chance/* 
said  Mrs.  Hoffman. 

"  That's  what  I  think." 

"  You  could  soon  save  up  the  money  on  two 
dollars  a  day." 

"  I  could  pay  for  it  in  a  month — I  mean,  all 
above  the  fourteen  dollars  we  have." 

"  In  a  day  or  two  I  shall  have  finished  the  sec- 
ond half-dozen  shirts,  and  then  I  suppose  Mr. 
Preston  will  pay  me  nine  dollars  more.  I  could 
let  you  have  six  dollars  of  that." 

"That  would  make  twenty.  Perhaps  George 
Barry  will  take  that.  If  he  won't,  I  don't  know 
but  I  will  venture  to  apply  to  Mr.  Preston  for 
help." 

"  He  seems  to  take  an  interest  in  you.  Per- 
haps he  would  be  willing  to  trust  you  with  the 
money." 

"  I  could  offer  him  a  mortgage  on  the  stock," 
said  Paul. 

"  If  he  has  occasion  to  foreclose,  he  will  be  well 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  123 

provided  with  neckties,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman,  smil- 
ing. 

"  None  of  which  he  could  wear.  I'll  tell  you 
what,  mother,  I  should  like  to  pick  up  a  pocket- 
book  in  the  street,  containing,  say,  twenty  or 
twenty-five  dollars." 

"  That  would  be  very  convenient,"  said  his 
mother;  "  but  I  think  it  will  hardly  do  to  depend 
on  such  good  luck  happening  to  you.  By  the 
way,"  she  said  suddenly,  "  perhaps  I  can  help 
you,  after  all.  Don't  you  remember  that  gold 
ring  I  picked  up  in  Central  Park  two  years 
ago  ?  " 

"  The  one  you  advertised?  " 

"  Yes.  I  advertised,  or,  rather,  your  father 
did ;  but  we  never  found  an  owner  for  it." 

"  I  remember  it  now,  mother.  Have  you  got 
the  ring  still  ?  " 

"  I  will  get  it." 

Mrs.  Hoffman  went  to  her  trunk,  and,  opening 
it,  produced  the  ring  referred  to.  It  was  a 
gold  ring  with  a  single  stone  of  considerable 
size. 

"  I  don't  know  how  much  it  is  worth,"  said 
Mrs.  Hoffman;  "  but  if  the  ring  is  a  diamond,  as 
I  think  it  is,  it  must  be  worth  as  much  as  twenty 
dollars." 

"  Did  you  ever  price  it  ?  " 


124  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"No,  Paul;  I  have  kept  it,  thinking  that  it 
would  be  something  to  fall  back  upon  if  we  should 
ever  be  hard  pressed.  As  long  as  we  were  able 
to  get  along  without  suffering,  I  thought  I  would 
keep  it.  Besides,  I  had  another  feeling.  It  might 
belong  to  some  person  who  prized  it  very  much, 
and  the  time  might  come  when  we  could  find  the 
owner.  However,  that  is  not  likely  after  so  long 
a  time.  So,  if  you  cannot  raise  the  money  in  any 
other  way,  you  may  sell  the  ring." 

"  I  might  pawn  it  for  thirty  days,  mother.  By 
that  time  I  should  be  able  to  redeem  it  with  the 
profits  of  my  business." 

"  I  don't  think  you  could  get  enough  from  a 
pawnbroker." 

"  I  can  try,  at  any  rate ;  but  first  I  will  see 
George  Barry,  and  find  out  whether  he  will  take 
twenty  dollars  down,  and  the  rest  at  the  end  of 
the  month." 

Paul  wrapped  up  the  ring  in  a  piece  of  paper, 
and  deposited  it  in  his  vest  pocket.  He  waited  till 
after  dinner,  and  then  went  at  once  to  the  necktie 
stand,  where  he  made  the  proposal  to  George 
Barry. 

The  young  man  shook  his  head. 

"  I'd  like  to  oblige  you,  Paul,"  he  said,  "  but  I 
must  have  the  money.  I  have  an  offer  of  thirty- 
two  dollars,  cash,  from  another  party,  and  I  must 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  125 

take  up  with  it  if  I  can't  do  any  better.  I'd  rather 
sell  out  to  you,  but  you  know  I  have  to  consult 
my  own  interests." 

"  Of  course,  George,  I  can't  complain  of 
that." 

"  I  think  you  will  be  able  to  borrow  the  money 
somewhere." 

"  Most  of  my  friends  are  as  poor  as  myself," 
said  Paul.  "  Still,  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  raise 
the  money  somewhere.  Only  wait  for  me  two 
days." 

"  Yes,  Paul,  I'll  wait  that  long.  I'd  like  to  sell 
out  to  you,  if  only  because  you  have  helped  me 
when  I  was  sick.  But  for  you  all  that  would  have 
been  lost  time." 

"  Where  there's  a  will  there's  a  way,  George," 
said  Paul.  "  I'm  bound  to  buy  your  stand,  and 
I  will  raise  the  money  somehow." 

Paul  bought  a  few  papers,  for  he  did  not  like 
to  lose  the  afternoon  trade,  and  in  an  hour  had 
sold  them  all  off,  realizing  a  profit  of  twenty  cents. 
This  made  his  profits  for  the  day  seventy 
cents. 

"  That  isn't  as  well  as  I  used  to  do,"  said  Paul 
to  himself,  "  but  perhaps  I  can  make  something 
more  by  and  by.  I  shall  go  now  and  see  what  I  can 
get  for  the  ring." 

As  he  had  determined,  he  proceeded  to  a  pawn- 


126  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

broker's  shop  which  he  had  often  passed.  It 
was  on  Chatham  Street,  and  was  kept  by  an  old 
man,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  who,  though  he 
lived  meanly  in  a  room  behind  his  shop,  was  popu- 
larly supposed  to  have  accumulated  a  considerable 
fortune. 


CHAPTER  XV 
THE  PAWNBROKER'S  SHOP 

Stuffed  behind  the  counter,  and  on  the  shelves 
of  the  pawnbroker's  shop,  were  articles  in  almost 
endless  variety.  All  was  fish  that  came  to  his  net. 
He  was  willing  to  advance  on  anything  that  had  a 
marketable  value,  and  which  promised  to  yield 
him,  I  was  about  to  say,  a  fair  profit.  But  a  fair 
profit  was  far  from  satisfying  the  old  man.  He 
demanded  an  extortionate  profit  from  those  whom 
ill-fortune  drove  to  his  door  for  relief. 

Eliakim  Henderson,  for  that  was  his  name,  was 
a  small  man,  with  a  bald  head,  scattering  yellow 
whiskers,  and  foxlike  eyes.  Spiderlike  he  waited 
for  the  flies  who  flew  of  their  own  accord  into  his 
clutches,  and  took  care  not  to  let  them  go  until  he 
had  levied  a  large  tribute.  When  Paul  entered 
the  shop  there  were  three  customers  ahead  of  him. 
One  was  a  young  woman,  whose  pale  face  and 
sunken  cheeks  showed  that  she  was  waging  an 
unequal  conflict  with  disease.  She  was  a  seam- 
stress by  occupation,  and  had  to  work  fifteen  hours 


128  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

a  day  to  earn  the  little  that  was  barely  sufficient  to 
keep  body  and  soul  together.  Confined  in  her 
close  little  room  on  the  fourth  floor,  she  scarcely 
dared  to  snatch  time  to  look  out  of  the  window 
into  the  street  beneath,  lest  she  should  not  be  able 
to  complete  her  allotted  task.  A  two-days'  sick- 
ness had  compelled  her  to  have  recourse  to  Elia- 
kim  Henderson.  She  had  under  her  arm  a  small 
bundle  carefully  covered  with  an  old  copy  of  the 
"  Sun." 

"  What  have  you  got  here  ?  "  asked  the  old  man 
roughly.  "  Show  it  quick,  for  there's  others 
waiting." 

Meekly  she  unfolded  a  small  shawl,  somewhat 
faded  from  long  use. 

"  What  will  you  give  me  on  that?  "  she  asked 
timidly. 

"  It  isn't  worth  much." 

"  It  cost  five  dollars." 

"  Then  you  got  cheated.  It  never  was  worth 
half  the  money.  What  do  you  want  on  it?  " 

The  seamstress  intended  to  ask  a  dollar  and  a 
half,  but  after  this  depreciation  she  did  not  vent- 
ure to  name  so  high  a  figure. 

"  A  dollar  and  a  quarter,"  she  said. 

"A  dollar  and  a  quarter!"  repeated  the  old 
man  shrilly.  "  Take  it  home  with  you.  I  don't 
want  it." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  129 

"  What  will  you  give  ?  "  asked  the  poor  girl 
faintly. 

"  Fifty  cents.     Not  a  penny  more." 

"  Fifty  cents ! "  she  repeated,  in  dismay,  and 
was  about  to  refold  it.  But  the  thought  of  her 
rent  in  arrears  changed  her  half-formed  inten- 
tion. 

"  I'll  take  it,  sir." 

The  money  and  ticket  were  handed  her,  and  she 
went  back  to  her  miserable  attic-room,  coughing 
as  she  went. 

"  Now,  ma'am,"  said  Eliakim. 

His  new  customer  was  an  Irishwoman,  by  no 
means  consumptive  in  appearance,  red  of  face  and 
portly  of  figure. 

"  And  what  '11  ye  be  givin'  me  for  this?  "  she 
asked,  displaying  a  pair  of  pantaloons. 

"  Are  they  yours,  ma'am  ?  "  asked  Eliakim, 
with  a  chuckle. 

"  It's  not  Bridget  McCarty  that  wears  the 
breeches,"  said  that  lady.  "  It's  me  husband's, 
and  a  dacent,  respectable  man  he  is,  barrin'  the 
drink,  which  turns  his  head.  What  '11  ye  give 
for  'em  ?  " 

"  Name  your  price,"  said  Eliakim,  whose  prin- 
ciple it  was  to  insist  upon  his  customers  making 
the  first  offer. 

"  Twelve  shillin's,"  said  Bridget. 


130  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Twelve  shillings !  "  exclaimed  Eliakim,  hold- 
ing up  both  hands.  "  That's  all  they  cost  when 
they  were  new." 

"  They  cost  every  cint  of  five  dollars,"  returned 
Bridget.  "  They  was  made  at  one  of  the  most 
fashionable  shops  in  the  city.  Oh,  they  was  an 
illigant  pair  when  they  was  new." 

"  How  many  years  ago  was  that  ?  "  asked  the 
pawnbroker. 

"Only  six  months,  and  they  ain't  been  worn 
more'n  a  month." 

*'  I'll  give  you  fifty  cents." 

"  Fifty  cints ! "  repeated  Mrs.  McCarty,  turn- 
ing to  the  other  customers,  as  if  to  call  their  atten- 
tion to  an  offer  so  out  of  proportion  to  the  valu- 
able article  she  held  in  her  hand.  "  Only  fifty 
cints  for  these  illigant  breeches!  Oh,  it's  you 
that's  a  hard  man,  that  lives  on  the  poor  and  the 
nady." 

"  You  needn't  take  it.  I  should  lose  money  on 
it,  if  you  didn't  redeem  it." 

"  He  says  he'd  lose  money  on  it,"  said  Mrs. 
McCarty.  "  And  suppose  he  did,  isn't  he  a-rollin' 
in  gold?" 

"  I'm  poor,"  said  Eliakim;  "almost  as  poor  as 
you,  because  I'm  altogether  too  liberal  to  my  cus- 
tomers." 

"  Hear  till  him!  "  said  Mrs.  McCarty.     "  He 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  131 

says  he's  liberal,  and  only  offers  fifty  cints  for 
these  illigant  breeches." 

"  Will  you  take  them  or  leave  them  ? "  de- 
manded the  pawnbroker  impatiently. 

"  You  may  give  me  the  money,"  said  Bridget; 
"  and  it's  I  that  wonder  how  you  can  slape  in  your 
bed,  when  you  are  so  hard  on  poor  folks." 

Mrs.  McCarty  departed  with  her  money,  and 
Eliakim  fixed  his  sharp  eyes  on  the  next  customer. 
It  was  a  tall  man,  shabbily  dressed,  with  a  thin, 
melancholy-looking  face,  and  the  expression  of 
one  who  had  struggled  with  the  world,  and  failed 
in  the  struggle. 

"  How  much  for  this  ?  "  he  asked,  pointing  to 
the  violin,  and  speaking  in  a  slow,  deliberate  tone, 
as  if  he  did  not  feel  at  home  in  the  English  lan- 
guage. 

"  What  do  you  want  for  it  ?  " 

"  Ten  dollar,"  he  answered. 

"  Ten  dollars !  You're  crazy !  "  was  the  con- 
temptuous comment  of  the  pawnbroker. 

"  He  is  a  very  good  violin,"  said  the  man.  "  If 
you  would  like  to  hear  him;  "  and  he  made  a 
movement  as  if  to  play  upon  it. 

"  Never  mind !  "  said  Eliakim.  "  I  haven't 
any  time  to  hear  it.  If  it  were  new  it  would  be 
worth  something;  but  it's  old,  and " 

"  But  you  do  not  understand,"  interrupted  the 


132  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

customer  eagerly.  "  It  is  worth  much  more  than 
new.  Do  you  see,  it  is  by  a  famous  maker?  I 
would  not  sell  him,  but  I  am  poor,  and  my  Bettina 
needs  bread.  It  hurts  me  very  much  to  let  him 
go.  I  will  buy  him  back  again  just  as  soon  as 
I  can." 

"  I  will  give  you  two  dollars,  but  I  shall  lose  on 
it,  unless  you  redeem  it." 

"  Two  dollar !  "  repeated  the  Italian.  "  O  cielo ! 
it  is  nothing.  But  Bettina  is  at  home  without 
bread,  poor  little  one!  Will  you  not  give  three 
dollar?" 

"  Not  a  cent  more." 

"  I  will  take  it." 

"  There's  your  money  and  ticket." 

And  with  these  the  poor  Italian  departed,  giv- 
ing one  last  lingering  glance  at  his  precious  violin, 
as  Eliakim  took  it  roughly  and  deposited  it  upon 
a  shelf  behind  him.  But  he  thought  of  his  little 
daughter  at  home,  and  the  means  of  relief  which 
he  held  in  his  hand,  and  a  smile  of  joy  lightened 
his  melancholy  features.  The  future  might  be 
dark  and  unpromising,  but  for  three  days,  at  any 
rate,  she  should  not  want  bread. 

Paul's  turn  came  next. 

"And  what  have  you  got?  "  asked  the  pawn- 
broker. 

Paul  showed  the  ring. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  133 

Eliakim  took  it,  and  his  small,  beadlike  eyes 
sparkled  avariciously  as  he  recognized  the  dia- 
mond, for  his  experience  was  such  that  he  could 
form  a  tolerably  correct  estimate  of  its  value. 
But  he  quickly  suppressed  all  outward  manifesta- 
tions of  interest,  and  said  indifferently,  "  What 
do  you  want  for  it  ?  " 

"  I  want  twenty  dollars  for  it,"  said  Paul 
boldly. 

"  Twenty  dollars !  "  returned  the  pawnbroker. 
"  That's  a  joke." 

"  No  it  isn't,"  said  Paul.  "  I  want  twenty  dol- 
lars, and  you  can't  have  the  ring  for  a  cent 
less." 

"  If  you  said  twenty  shillings,  I  might  give  it 
to  you,"  said  F.liakim;  "  but  you  must  think  I  am 
a  fool  to  give  twenty  dollars." 

"That's  cheap  for  a  diamond  ring,"  said  Paul. 
"  It's  worth  a  good  deal  more." 

The  pawnbroker  eyed  Paul  sharply.  Did  the 
boy  know  that  it  was  a  diamond  ring?  What 
chance  was  there  of  deceiving  him  as  to  its 
value  ? 

The  old  man,  whose  business  made  him  a  good 
judge,  decided  that  the  ring  was  not  worth  less 
than  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  if  he  could 
get  it  into  his  possession  for  a  trifle,  it  would  be  a 
paying  operation. 


134  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  You're  mistaken,  boy,"  said  he.  "  It's  not  a 
diamond." 

"What  is  it?" 

"A  very  good  imitation." 

"  How  much  is  it  worth  ?  " 

"  I'll  give  you  three  dollars." 

"That  won't  do.  I  want  to  raise  twenty  dol- 
lars, and  if  I  can't  get  that,  I'll  keep  the 
ring." 

The  pawnbroker  saw  that  he  had  made  a  mis- 
take. Paul  was  not  as  much  in  need  of  money 
as  the  majority  of  his  customers.  He  would 
rather  pay  twenty  dollars  than  lose  the  bargain, 
though  it  went  against  the  grain  to  pay  so  much 
money.  But  after  pronouncing  the  stone  an  im- 
itation, how  could  he  rise  much  above  the  offer 
he  had  already  made?  He  resolved  to  approach 
it  gradually.  Surveying  it  more  closely,  he  said : 

"It  is  an  excellent  imitation.  I  will  give  you 
five  dollars." 

Paul  was  not  without  natural  shrewdness,  and 
this  sudden  advance  convinced  him  that  it  was, 
after  all,  a  real  stone.  He  determined  to  get 
twenty  dollars  or  carry  the  ring  home. 

"  Five  dollars  won't  do  me  any  good,"  he  said. 
"Give  me  back  the  ring." 

"  Five  dollars  is  a  good  deal  of  money,"  said 
Eliakim. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  135 

"  I'd  rather  have  the  ring." 

"  What  is  your  lowest  price  ?  " 

"  Twenty  dollars." 

"I'll  give  you  eight.  " 

"  Just  now  you  said  it  was  worth  only  three," 
said  Paul  sharply. 

"  It  is  very  fine  gold.  It  is  better  than  I 
thought.  Here  is  the  money." 

"You're  a  little  too  fast,"  said  Paul  coolly. 
"  I  haven't  agreed  to  part  with  the  ring  for  eight 
dollars,  and  I  don't  mean  to.  Twenty  dollars  is 
my  lowest  price." 

"  I'll  give  you  ten,"  said  the  old  man,  whose 
eagerness  increased  in  proportion  to  Paul's  in- 
difference. 

"  No,  you  won't.     Give  me  back  the  ring." 

"  I  might  give  eleven,  but  I  should  lose 
money." 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  lose  money,  and  I've  con- 
cluded to  keep  the  ring,"  said  Paul,  rightly  infer- 
ring from  the  old  man's  eagerness  that  the  ring 
was  much  more  valuable  than  he  had  at  first  sup- 
posed. 

But  the  old  pawnbroker  was  fascinated  by  the 
sparkling  bauble.  He  could  not  make  up  his 
mind  to  give  it  up.  By  fair  means  or  foul  he 
must  possess  it.  He  advanced  his  bid  to  twelve, 
fourteen,  fifteen  dollars,  but  Paul  shook  his  head 


136  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

resolutely.  He  had  made  up  his  mind  to  carry 
it  to  Ball  &  Black's,  or  some  other  first-class 
jewelers,  and  ascertain  whether  it  was  a  real 
diamond  or  not,  and  if  so  to  obtain  an  estimate 
of  its  value. 

"  I've  changed  my  mind,"  he  said.     "  I'll  keep 
the  ring.    Just  give  it  back  to  me." 


CHAPTER  XVI 
THE  JEWELER'S  PRICE 

But  to  give  it  back  was  not  Eliakim's  intention. 
Should  he  buy  it  at  twenty  dollars,  he  would  make 
at  least  two  hundred,  and  such  bargains  were  not 
to  be  had  every  day.  After  considering  the  mat- 
ter a  minute  he  decided  to  give  Paul  the  price  he 
asked. 

"  I  will  give  you  twenty  dollars,"  he  said;  "  but 
it  is  more  than  the  ring  is  worth." 

"  I  have  concluded  not  to  take  twenty  dollars," 
said  Paul.  "  You  may  give  it  back." 

"  You  agreed  to  take  twenty  dollars,"  said  Elia- 
kim  angrily. 

"  That  was  when  I  first  came  in.  You  said  you 
wouldn't  give  it." 

"I  have  changed  my  mind." 

"  So  have  I,"  said  Paul.  "  You  had  a  chance 
to  get  it,  but  now  it's  too  late." 

Eliakim  was  deeply  disappointed.  Generally 
he  had  his  own  way  with  his  customers,  who, 
being  in  urgent  need  of  money,  were  obliged  to 


138  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

accept  such  terms  as  he  chose  to  offer.  But  now 
the  tables  were  turned,  and  Paul  proved  more  than 
a  match  for  him.  He  resolved  to  attempt  in- 
timidation. 

"  Boy,  where  did  you  get  this  ring?  "  he  asked 
in  a  significant  tone. 

"  Honestly,"  said  Paul.  "  That's  all  you  need 
to  know." 

"  I  don't  believe  it/'  said  the  old  man  harshly. 
"  I  believe  you  stole  it." 

"  You  may  believe  whatever  you  like,  but  you 
must  give  the  ring  back  to  me,"  said  Paul 
coolly. 

"  I've  a  great  mind  to  call  a  policeman,"  said 
Eliakim. 

"  If  you  did,"  said  Paul,  "  I'd  tell  him  that  you 
were  anxious  to  get  the  ring,  though  you  believed 
it  to  be  stolen.  Perhaps  he  might  have  something 
to  say  to  you." 

Eliakim  perceived  the  force  of  Paul's  argument, 
for  in  law  the  receiver  of  stolen  goods  is  as 
bad  as  the  thief,  and  there  had  been  occasions 
when  the  pawnbroker  had  narrowly  escaped 
punishment  for  thus  indirectly  conniving  at 
theft. 

"  If  you  say  you  got  it  honestly,  I'll  buy  it  of 
you,"  he  said,  changing  his  tune.  "  What  will 
you  take  ?  " 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  139. 

"  I  don't  care  about  selling  to-day,"  answered 
Paul. 

"  I'll  give  you  twenty-five  dollars." 

"  I  can't  sell  without  consulting  my  mother.  It 
belongs  to  her." 

Reluctantly  Eliakim  gave  back  the  ring,  finding 
his  wiles  of  no  effect. 

"  Bring  your  mother  round  to-morrow,"  he 
said.  "  I'll  give  you  a  better  price  than  you  will 
get  anywhere  else." 

"  All  right,"  said  Paul.  "  I'll  tell  her  what  you 
say." 

The  old  pawnbroker  followed  Paul  with  wistful 
glances,  vainly  wishing  that  he  had  not  at  first 
depreciated  the  ring  to  such  an  extent,  that  his 
subsequent  advances  had  evidently  excited  his  cus- 
tomer's suspicion  that  it  was  more  valuable  than 
he  supposed. 

He  felt  that  he  had  lost  it  through  not  under- 
standing the  character  of  the  boy  with  whom  he 
had  to  deal. 

"Well,  Paul,  what  news  of  the  ring?"  asked 
Mrs.  Hoffman,  as  on  reaching  home  he  re-entered 
the  room. 

"  I  was  offered  twenty-five  dollars  for  it,"  said 
Paul. 

"Did  you  sell  it?" 

"No,  mother." 


140  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"Why  not?"  asked  Jimmy.  "Twenty-five 
dollars  is  a  lot  of  money." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Paul;  "  but  the  ring  is  worth 
a  great  deal  more." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so,  Paul?  " 

"  Because  the  offer  was  made  by  a  pawnbroker, 
who  never  pays  quarter  what  an  article  is  worth. 
I  am  sure  the  ring  is  worth  a  hundred  dol- 
lars." 

"  Yes,  I  am  sure  it  is  worth  all  that,  if  not 
more." 

"  A  hundred  dollars !  "  repeated  Jimmy,  awe- 
struck at  the  magnitude  of  the  sum. 

"  What  shall  we  do  about  it,  Paul?  "  asked  his 
mother.  "  A  hundred  dollars  will  do  us  more 
good  than  the  ring." 

"  I  know  that,  mother.  What  I  propose  is,  to 
carry  it  to  Ball  &  Black's,  or  Tiffany's,  and  sell 
it  for  whatever  they  say  it  is  worth.  They  are 
first-class  houses,  and  we  can  depend  upon  fair 
treatment." 

"  Your  advice  is  good,  Paul.  I  think  we  will 
follow  it.  When  will  you  go  ?  " 

"  I  will  go  at  once.  I  have  nothing  else  to  do, 
and  I  would  like  to  find  out  as  soon  as  I  can  how 
much  it  will  bring.  Old  Henderson  wanted  me 
to  think,  at  first,  that  it  was  only  imitation,  and 
offered  me  twenty  shillings  on  it  He's  an  old 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  141 

cheat.  When  he  found  that  I  wasn't  to  be  hum- 
bugged, he  raised  his  offer  by  degrees  to  twenty- 
five  dollars.  That  was  what  made  me  suspect  its 
value." 

"  If  you  get  a  hundred  dollars,  Paul,"  said 
Jimmy,  "  you  can  buy  out  the  stand." 

"  That  depends  on  whether  mother  will  lend 
me  the  money,"  said  Paul.  "  You  know  it's  hers. 
She  may  not  be  willing  to  lend  without  se- 
curity." 

"  I  am  so  unaccustomed  to  being  a  capitalist," 
said  Mrs.  Hoffman,  smiling,  "  that  I  shan't  know 
how  to  sustain  the  character.  I  don't  think,  how- 
ever, that  I  shall  be  afraid  to  trust  you, 
Paul." 

Once  more,  with  the  ring  carefully  wrapped  in 
a  paper  and  deposited  in  his  pocketbook,  Paul 
started  uptown.  Tiffany,  whose  fame  as  a 
jeweler  is  world-wide,  was  located  on  Broadway. 
He  had  not  yet  removed  to  his  present  magnificent 
store  on  Union  Square.  Paul  knew  the  store  but 
had  never  entered  it.  Now,  as  he  entered,  he  was 
struck  with  astonishment  at  the  sight  of  the  im- 
mense and  costly  stock,  unrivaled  by  any  similar 
establishment,  not  only  in  the  United  States,  but 
in  Europe. 

Our  hero  walked  briskly  up  to  the  counter, 
and  stood  beside  a  richly-dressed  lady  who  was 


142  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

bargaining  for  a  costly  bracelet.  He  had  to  wait 
ten  minutes  while  the  lady  was  making  her  choice 
from  a  number  submitted  to  her  for  inspection. 
Finally  she  selected  one,  and  paid  for  it.  The 
clerk,  now  being  at  leisure,  turned  to  our  hero 
and  asked : 

"  Well,  young  man,  what  can  I  do  for  you 
to-day?" 

"  I  have  a  ring  which  I  should  like  to  show  you. 
I  would  like  to  know  how  much  it  is  worth." 

"  Very  well.     Let  me  see  it." 

When  Paul  produced  the  diamond  ring,  the 
clerk,  who  had  long  been  in  the  business,  and 
perceived  its  value  at  once,  started  in  sur- 
prise. 

"  Do  you  know  that  this  is  a  very  valuable 
ring?  "  he  asked. 

"  So  I  thought,"  said  Paul.  "  How  much  is  it 
worth?" 

"  Do  you  mean  how  much  should  we  ask  for 
it?" 

"  No;  I'd  like  to  know  how  much  would  you 
give  for  it  ?  " 

"We  would  give  probably  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars." 

Paul  was  quite  startled  on  finding  the  ring  so 
much  more  valuable  than  he  had  supposed.  He 
had  thought  it  might  possibly  be  worth  a  hundred 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  145, 

dollars;  but  he  had  not  imagined  any  rings  were 
worth  as  much  as  the  sum  named. 

"  Will  you  buy  it  of  me?  "  he  asked. 

The  clerk  regarded  Paul  attentively,  and,  as  he 
thought,  a  Iktle  suspiciously. 

"  Does  the  ring  belong  to  you?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  to  my  mother." 

"Where  did  she  buy  it?" 

"  She  didn't  buy  it  at  all.  She  found  it  one  day 
at  Central  Park.  It  belongs  to  her  now.  She 
advertised  for  an  owner,  and  examined  the  papers 
to  see  if  it  was  advertised  as  lost,  but  could  hear 
nothing  of  the  one  to  whom  it  belonged." 

"  How  long  ago  was  this  ?  " 

"  Two  years  ago." 

"  I  will  show  this  ring  to  Mr.  Tiffany,"  said 
the  clerk. 

"  Very  well." 

Paul  took  a  seat  and  waited. 

Soon  Mr.  Tiffany  came  up. 

"  Are  you  the  boy  who  brought  in  the  ring?  " 
he  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  You  say  your  mother  found  it  two  years  ago 
in  Central  Park?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  It  is  a  valuable  ring.  I  should  be  willing  to 
buy  it  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  if  I  were 


144  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

quite  certain  that  you  had  a  right  to  dispose 
of  it." 

"I  have  told  you  the  truth,  Mr.  Tiffany," 
said  Paul,  a  little  nettled  at  having  his  word 
doubted. 

"  That  may  be,  but  there  is  still  a  possibility 
that  the  original  owner  may  turn  up." 

"  Won't  you  buy  it,  then  ?  "  asked  Paul,  dis- 
appointed, for,  if  he  were  unable  to  dispose  of  the 
ring,  he  would  have  to  look  elsewhere  for  the 
means  of  buying  out  Barry's  street  stand. 

"  I  don't  say  that;  but  I  should  want  a  guaranty 
of  indemnity  against  loss,  in  case  the  person  who 
lost  it  should  present  a  claim." 

"  In  that  case,"  said  Paul,  "  I  would  give  you 
back  the  money  you  paid  me." 

Mr.  Tiffany  smiled. 

"  But  suppose  the  money  were  all  spent,"  he 
suggested.  "  I  suppose  you  are  intending  to  use 
the  money?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  start  in  business  with  it,"  said 
Paul,  "  and  I  hope  to  add  to  it." 

"  Everyone  thinks  so  who  goes  into  business; 
but  some  get  disappointed.  You  see,  my  young 
friend,  that  I  should  incur  a  risk.  Remember,  I 
don't  know  you.  I  judge  from  your  appearance 
that  you  are  honest;  but  appearances  are  some- 
times deceitful." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  145 

"  Then  I  suppose  you  won't  buy  it?  "  said  Paul, 
who  saw  the  force  of  this  remark. 

"  If  you  can  bring  here  any  responsible  gentle- 
man who  knows  you,  and  is  willing  to  guarantee 
me  against  loss  in  the  event  of  the  owner's  being 
found  I  will  buy  the  ring  for  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars." 

Paul  brightened  up.  He  thought  at  once  of 
Mr.  Preston,  and,  from  the  friendly  interest  which 
that  gentleman  appeared  to  take  in  him,  he  be- 
lieved that  he  would  not  refuse  to  do  him  this 
service. 

"  I  think  I  can  do  that,"  he  said.  "  Do  you 
know  Mr.  Andrew  Preston?  He  is  a  wealthy 
gentleman,  who  lives  on  Madison  Avenue,  be- 
tween Thirty-fourth  and  Thirty-fifth  Streets." 

"  Not  personally.  I  know  him  by  reputa- 
tion." 

"Will  he  be  satisfactory?" 

"  Entirely  so." 

"  He  knows  me  well,"  said  Paul.  "  I  think  he 
will  be  willing  to  stand  security  for  me.  I  will 
come  back  in  a  day  or  two." 

Paul  took  the  ring,  and  left  the  store.  He  de- 
termined to  call  that  evening  on  Mr.  Preston,  and 
ask  the  favor  indicated. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

MR.    FELIX    MONTGOMERY 

Paul  had  an  errand  farther  uptown,  and,  on 
leaving  Tiffany's,  walked  up  as  far  as  Twenty- 
third  Street.  Feeling  rather  tired,  he  got  on 
board  a  University  Place  car  to  return.  They 
had  accomplished,  perhaps,  half  the  distance, 
when,  to  his  surprise,  George  Barry  entered  the 
car. 

"  How  do  you  happen  to  be  here,  at  this  time, 
Barry  ?  "  he  asked.  "  I  thought  you  were  attend- 
ing to  business." 

"  I  closed  up  my  stand  for  a  couple  of  hours, 
as  I  had  to  go  home  on  an  errand.  Where  have 
you  been  ?  " 

"  To  Tiffany's." 

"What,  the  jeweler's?" 

"  Yes." 

"To  buy  a  diamond  ring,  I  suppose,"  said 
Barry  jocosely." 

"  No — not  to  buy,  but  to  sell  one." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  147 

"You  are  joking,"  said  his  companion,  in- 
credulously. 

"  No,  I  am  not.  The  ring  belongs  to  my 
mother.  I  am  trying  to  raise  money  enough  to 
bay  you  out." 

"  I  didn't  know  your  mother  was  rich  enough 
to  indulge  in  such  expensive  jewelry  as  diamond 
rings." 

"  She  isn't,  and  that's  the  reason  I  am  trying 
to  sell  it." 

"  I  mean,  I  didn't  think  she  was  ever  rich 
enough." 

"  I'll  explain  it,"  said  Paul.  "  The  ring  was 
found  some  time  since  in  Central  Park.  As  no 
owner  has  ever  appeared,  though  we  advertised 
it  in  the  daily  papers,  we  consider  that  it  now 
belongs  to  us." 

"  How  much  is  it  worth?  " 

"  Mr.  Tiffany  offered  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  for  it." 

Barry  uttered  an  exclamation  of  astonish- 
ment. 

"  Well,  that  is  what  I  call  luck.  Of  course  you 
accepted  it." 

"I  intend  to  do  so;  but  I  must  bring  some 
gentleman  who  will  guarantee  that  I  am  all  right, 
and  have  the  right  to  sell  it." 

"  Can  you  do  that  ?  " 


148  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"I  think  so;  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  Preston. 
I  think  he  will  do  me  that  favor." 

"  Then  there's  a  fair  chance  of  your  buying  me 
out." 

"  Yes.  I  guess  I  can  settle  the  whole  thing  up 
to-morrow." 

"  Have  you  got  the  ring  with  you  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  it,  if  you  have  no  objec- 
tion." 

Paul  drew  it  from  his  pocket,  and  passed  it  over 
to  Barry. 

"  It's  a  handsome  one,  but  who  would  think 
such  a  little  thing  could  be  worth  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars?" 

"  I  would  rather  have  the  money  than  the 
ring." 

"  So  would  I." 

On  the  right  of  Paul  sat  a  man  of  about  forty, 
well-dressed  and  respectable  in  appearance,  with  a 
heavy  gold  chain  ostentatiously  depending  from 
his  watch  pocket  and  with  the  air  of  a  substantial 
citizen.  He  listened  to  the  conversation  between 
Barry  and  Paul  closely  and  with  evident  inter- 
est, and  when  Barry  returned  the  ring  to  Paul,  he 
said: 

"  Young  gentleman,  would  you  be  kind  enough 
to  let  me  look  at  your  ring?  I  am  myself  in  busi- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  *49 

ness  as  a  jeweler  in  Syracuse,  and  so  feel  an  inter- 
est in  examining  it." 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  said  Paul,  the  stranger's  ex- 
planation of  his  motives  inspiring  him  with  per- 
fect confidence. 

The  jeweler  from  Syracuse  took  the  ring  in 
his  hands  and  appeared  to  examine  it  care- 
fully. 

"  This  is  a  handsome  ring,"  he  said,  "  and  one 
of  great  value.  How  much  were  you  offered  for 
it  at  Tiffany's?" 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 

"  It  is  worth  more." 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  said  Paul ;  "  but  he  has  to 
sell  it,  and  make  a  profit." 

"  He  could  do  that,  and  yet  make  a  profit.  I 
will  pay  you  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars 
myself — that  is  on  one  condition." 

"  I  don't  object  to  getting  twenty-five  dollars 
more,"  said  Paul.  "What  is  the  condi- 
tion?" 

"  I  have  an  order  from  a  gentleman  for  a  dia- 
mond ring  for  a  young  lady — an  engagement 
ring,  in  short.  If  this  suits  him,  as  I  think  it  will, 
I  will  pay  you  what  I  said.  I  can  easily  get  three 
hundred  and  twenty-five  from  him." 

"  How  are  you  going  to  find  out  whether  it 
wiU  suit  him  ?  " 


ISO  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Easily.  He  is  stopping  at  the  same  hotel 
with  me." 

"What  hotel  is  that?" 

"  Lovejoy's.  If  you  can  spare  the  time,  and 
will  come  with  me  now,  we  can  arrange  matters 
at  once.  By  the  way,  you  can  refer  me  to  some 
responsible  citizen,  who  will  guarantee  you.  Not, 
of  course,  that  I  have  any  doubts,  but  you  know, 
of  course,  that  we  business  men  are  forced  to  be 
cautious." 

Paul  mentioned  Mr.  Preston's  name. 

"  Quite  satisfactory,"  answered  the  jeweler.  "  I 
know  Mr.  Preston  personally,  and  as  I  am  pressed 
for  time,  I  will  accept  his  name,  without  calling 
upon  him.  What  is  your  name?  " 

"  Paul  Hoffman." 

"  I  will  note  it  down." 

The  gentleman  from  Syracuse  drew  out  a  mem- 
orandum book  in  which  he  entered  Paul's 
name. 

"  When  you  see  Mr.  Preston,  just  mention  my 
name — Felix  Montgomery." 

"  I  will  do  so." 

"  Say,  if  you  please,  that  I  would  have  called 
upon  him,  but,  as  I  came  to  the  city  strictly  on 
business,  I  shall  have  no  opportunity  to  do 
so." 

This  also  Paul  promised,  and  counted  himself 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  151 

fortunate  in  falling  in  with  a  friend,  or,  at  all 
events,  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Preston,  since  he  was 
iikely  to  make  twenty-five  dollars  more  than  he 
would  otherwise  have  done. 

When  they  got  out  of  the  car  at  the  Astor 
House,  the  stranger  said : 

"  It  will  be  half  an  hour  before  I  can  reach 
Lovejoy's,  as  I  have  a  business  call  to  make  first. 
Can  you  call  there,  say,  in  three-quarters  of  an 
hour?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  well,  then,  I  will  expect  you.  Inquire 
for  me  at  the  desk,  and  ask  the  servant  to  con- 
duct you  to  my  room — you  remember  my 
name  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir — Mr.  Felix  Montgomery." 

"  Quite  right.  Good-by,  then,  till  we  meet 
again." 

Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  went  into  the  Astor 
House,  and  remained  about  five  minutes.  He 
then  came  out  on  the  steps,  and,  looking  up 
and  down  the  street  to  see  if  Paul  was  anywhere 
near,  descended  the  steps,  and  walked  across  to 
Lovejoy's  Hotel.  Going  up  to  the  desk,  he  in- 
quired : 

"  Can  you  accommodate  me  with  a  room  for 
a  day  or  so?  " 

"  Yes,  sir;  please  enter  your  name." 


i$2  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

The  stranger  entered  his  name  with  a  flourish, 
as  Felix  Montgomery,  Syracuse. 

"  Room  No.  237,"  said  the  clerk;  "  will  you  go 
up  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  think  so." 

"Any  luggage?" 

"  My  trunk  will  be  brought  from  the  St. 
Nicholas  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon." 

"  We  require  payment  in  advance  where  there 
is  no  luggage." 

"  Very  well.  I  will  pay  for  one  day.  I  am  not 
sure  but  I  shall  get  through  my  business  in  time 
to  go  away  to-morrow." 

Here  the  servant  appeared  to  conduct  Mr. 
Montgomery  to  his  room. 

"  By  the  way,"  he  said,  turning  back,  as  if  it 
were  an  afterthought,  "  I  directed  a  boy  to  call 
here  for  me  in  about  half  an  hour.  When  he 
comes  send  him  up  to  my  room,  if  you 
please." 

"  Very  well,  sir." 

Mr.  Montgomery  followed  the  servant  upstairs 
to  room  No.  237.  It  was  rather  high  up,  but  the 
guest  seemed  well  pleased  that  this  was  the 
case. 

"  Hope  you  won't  get  tired  of  climbing,  sir/' 
said  the  servant. 

"  No— I've  got  pretty  good  wind." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  153 

"  Most  gentlemen  complain  of  going  up  so 
far." 

"  It  makes  little  difference  to  me." 

At  length  they  reached  the  room,  and  Mr. 
Montgomery  entered. 

"  This  will  answer  very  well,"  he  said,  with  a 
hasty  glance  about  him.  "  When  my  trunk  comes, 
I  want  it  sent  up." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  believe  that  is  all;  you  can  go." 

The  servant  retired,  and  Mr.  Felix  Mont- 
gomery sat  down  upon  the  bed. 

"  My  little  plot  seems  likely  to  succeed,"  he  said 
to  himself.  "  I've  been  out  of  luck  lately,  but 
this  boy's  ring  will  give  me  a  lift.  He  can't  sus- 
pect anything,  and  I'm  sure  he  won't  fail  to 
come." 

Probably  the  reader  has  already  suspected  that 
Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  was  not  a  jeweler  from 
Syracuse,  nor  had  he  any  claim  to  the  name  under 
which  he  at  present  figured.  He  was  a  noted 
confidence  man,  who  lived  by  preying  upon  the 
community. 

His  appearance  was  decidely  in  his  favor, 
and  it  was  his  practice  to  assume  the  dress  and 
air  of  a  respectable  middle-aged  citizen,  as  in  the 
present  instance.  The  sight  of  the  diamond  ring 
had  excited  his  cupidity,  and  he  had  instantly 


154  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

formed  the  design  of  getting  possession  of  it, 
if  possible.  Thus  far,  his  plan  promised  suc- 
cess. 

Meanwhile,  Paul  loitered  away  the  time  in  the 
City  Hall  Park  for  half  an  hour  or  more.  He  did 
not  care  to  go  home  until  his  negotiation  was 
complete,  and  he  could  report  the  ring  sold,  and 
carry  home  the  money. 

"  Won't  mother  be  astonished,"  he  thought, 
"  at  the  price  I  got  for  the  ring?  I'm  in  luck  this 
morning." 

When  the  stipulated  time  had  passed,  Paul  lose 
from  the  bench  on  which  he  was  seated,  and 
walked  to  Lovejoy's  Hotel,  which  was  not  far 
distant. 

"  Has  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  a  room  here?" 
he  asked. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  clerk.  "  Did  you  wish  to 
see  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  He  mentioned  that  a  boy  would  call  by  ap- 
pointment. Here,  James,  show  this  boy  up  to 
No.  237 — Mr.  Montgomery's  room." 

A  hotel  servant  appeared,  and  Paul  followed 
him  up  several  flights  of  stairs  till  they  stood  be- 
fore No.  237. 

"  This  is  the  room,  sir,"  said  James.  "  Wait 
a  minute,  and  I'll  knock." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  155 

In  answer  to  the  knock,  Mr.  Montgomery  him- 
self opened  the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  he  said  to  Paul;  "  I  was  expecting 
you." 

So  Paul,  not  suspecting  treachery,  entered  No. 

237- 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

A  CLEVER  THIEF 

"  Take  a  seat,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery.  "  My 
friend  will  be  in  directly.  Meanwhile  will  you  let 
me  look  at  the  ring  once  more?  " 

Paul  took  it  from  his  pocket,  and  handed  it  to 
the  jeweler  from  Syracuse,  as  he  supposed  him  to 
be. 

Mr.  Montgomery  took  it  to  the  window,  and 
appeared  to  be  examining  it  carefully. 

He  stood  with  his  back  to  Paul,  but  this  did 
not  excite  suspicion  on  the  part  of  our  hero. 

"  I  am  quite  sure,"  he  said,  still  standing  with 
his  back  to  Paul,  "  that  this  will  please  my  friend. 
From  the  instructions  he  gave  me,  it  is  precisely 
what  he  wanted." 

While  uttering  these  words,  he  had  drawn  a 
sponge  and  a  vial  of  chloroform  from  his  side 
pocket.  He  saturated  the  former  from  the  vial, 
and  then  turning  quickly,  seized  Paul,  too  much 
taken  by  surprise  to  make  immediate  resistance, 
and  applied  the  sponge  to  his  nose.  When  he 
156 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  157 

realized  that  foul  play  was  meditated,  he  began  to 
struggle,  but  he  was  in  a  firm  grasp,  and  the 
chloroform  was  already  beginning  to  do  its  work. 
His  head  began  to  swim,  and  he  was  speedily  in  a 
state  of  insensibility.  When  this  was  accom- 
plished, Mr.  Felix  Montgomery,  eying  the  in- 
sensible boy  with  satisfaction,  put  on  his  hat, 
walked  quickly  to  the  door,  which  he  locked  on 
the  outside,  and  made  his  way  rapidly  downstairs. 
Leaving  the  key  at  the  desk,  he  left  the  hotel  and 
disappeared. 

Meanwhile  Paul  slowly  recovered  conscious- 
ness. As  he  came  to  himself,  he  looked  about  him 
bewildered,  not  at  first  comprehending  where  he 
was.  All  at  once  it  flashed  upon  him,  and  he 
jumped  up  eagerly,  and  rushed  to  the  door.  He 
tried  in  vain  to  open  it. 

"  I  am  regularly  trapped !  "  he  thought,  with  a 
feeling  of  mingled  anger  and  vexation.  "  What 
a  fool  I  was  to  let  myself  be  swindled  so  easily  1 
I  wonder  how  long  I  have  been  lying  here  in- 
sensible ?  " 

Paul  was  not  a  boy  to  give  up  easily.  He 
meant  to  get  back  the  ring  if  it  was  a  possible 
thing.  The  first  thing  was,  of  co«rse,  to  get  out 
of  his  present  confinement.  He  was  not  used  to 
hotel  arrangements,  and  never  thought  of  the 
bell,  but,  as  the  only  thing  he  could  think  of,  be- 


158  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

gan  to  pound  upon  the  door.  But  it  so  happened 
that  at  this  time  there  were  no  servants  on  that 
floor,  and  his  appeals  for  help  were  not  heard. 
Every  moment  that  he  had  to  wait  seemed  at  least 
five,  for  no  doubt  the  man  who  had  swindled  him 
was  improving  the  time  to  escape  to  a  place  of 
safety.  Finding  that  his  blows  upon  the  door 
produced  no  effect,  he  began  to  jump  up  and 
down  upon  the  floor,  making,  in  his  heavy  boots, 
a  considerable  noise. 

The  room  directly  under  No.  237  was  occupied 
by  an  old  gentleman  of  a  very  nervous  and  irasci- 
ble temper,  Mr.  Samuel  Piper,  a  country  mer- 
chant, who,  having  occasion  to  be  in  the  city  on 
business  for  a  few  days,  had  put  up  at  Love  joy's 
Hotel.  He  had  fatigued  himself  by  some  busi- 
ness calls,  and  was  now  taking  a  little  rest  upon 
the  bed,  when  he  was  aroused  from  half-sleep  by 
the  pounding  overhead. 

"  I  wish  people  would  have  the  decency  to  keep 
quiet,"  he  said  to  himself  peevishly.  "  How  can 
I  rest  with  such  a  confounded  racket  going  on 
above!" 

He  lay  back,  thinking  the  noise  would  cease; 
but  Paul,  finding  the  knocking  on  the  door  in- 
effectual, began  to  jump  up  and  down,  as  I  have 
already  said.  Of  course  this  noise  was  heard 
distinctly  in  the  room  below. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  159 

"  This  is  getting  intolerable !  "  exclaimed  Mr. 
Piper,  becoming  more  and  more  excited.  "  The 
man  ought  to  be  indicted  as  a  common  nuisance. 
How  they  can  allow  such  goings-on  in  a  respect- 
able hotel,  I  can't  understand.  I  should  think 
the  fellow  was  splitting  wood  upstairs." 

He  took  his  cane,  and,  standing  on  the  bed, 
struck  it  furiously  against  the  ceiling,  intending 
it  as  a  signal  to  the  man  above  to  desist.  But 
Paul,  catching  the  response,  began  to  jump  more 
furiously  than  ever,  finding  that  he  had  attracted 
attention. 

Mr.  Piper  became  enraged. 

"  The  man  must  be  a  lunatic  or  overcome  by 
drink,"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  can't  and  I  won't  stand 
it." 

But  the  noise  kept  on. 

Mr.  Piper  put  on  his  shoes  and  his  coat,  and, 
seizing  his  cane,  emerged  upon  the  landing.  He 
espied  one  of  the  female  servants  just  coming  up- 
stairs. 

"  Here,  you  Bridget,  or  Nancy,  or  whatever 
your  name  is,"  he  roared,  "  there's  a  lunatic  up- 
stairs, making  a  tremendous  row  in  the  room  over 
mine.  If  you  don't  stop  him  I'll  leave  the  hotel. 
Hear  him  now ! " 

Bridget  let  fall  Her  duster  in  fright. 

"  Is  it  a  crazy  man  ?  "  she  asked. 


160  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Of  course  he  must  be.  I  want  you  to  go  up 
and  stop  him." 

"  Is  it  me  that  would  go  near  a  crazy  man?  " 
exclaimed  Bridget,  horror-struck;  "  I  wouldn't 
do  it  for  a  million  dollars;  no,  indeed  I 
wouldn't." 

"  I  insist  upon  your  going  up,"  said  Mr.  Piper, 
irritably.  "  He  must  be  stopped.  Do  you  think 
I  am  going  to  stand  such  an  infernal  thumping 
over  my  head  ?  " 

"  I  wouldn't  do  it  if  you'd  go  down  on  your 
knees  to  me,"  said  Bridget  fervently. 

"  Come  along,  I'll  go  with  you." 

But  the  terrified  girl  would  not  budge  an 
inch. 

"  Then  you  go  down  and  tell  your  master  that 
there's  a  madman  up  here.  If  you  don't  I 
will." 

This  Bridget  consented  to  do;  and,  going 
downstairs,  gave  not  a  very  coherent  account  of 
the  disturbance.  Three  male  servants  came  back 
with  her. 

"  Is  that  the  man  ?  "  asked  the  first,  pointing  to 
Mr.  Piper,  who  certainly  looked  half  wild  with 
irritation. 

"  Yes,"  said  Bridget   stupidly. 

Immediately  Mr.  Piper  found  himself  pinioned 
on  either  side  by  a  stout  servant. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  161 

"  What  have  you  been  kicking  up  a  row  for  ?  " 
demanded  the  first. 

"  Let  me  alone,  or  I'll  have  the  law  take  care  of 
you,"  screamed  the  outraged  man.  "  Can't  you 
hear  the  fellow  that's  making  the  racket  up- 
stairs ?  " 

Paul,  tired  with  thumping,  had  desisted  for  a 
moment,  but  now  had  recommenced  with  increased 
energy.  The  sounds  could  be  distinctly  heard 
on  the  floor  below. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir.  I  made  a  mistake,"  said  the 
first  speaker,  releasing  his  hold.  "  We'll  go  up 
and  see  what's  the  matter." 

So  the  party  went  upstairs,  followed  at  a  dis- 
tance by  Bridget,  who,  influenced  alike  by  fear 
and  curiosity,  did  not  know  whether  to  go  up  or 
retreat. 

The  sounds  were  easily  traced  to  room  No. 
237.  In  front  of  this,  therefore,  the  party  congre- 
gated. 

"  What's  the  matter  in  there?  "  asked  James, 
the  first  servant,  putting  his  lips  to  the  key- 
hole. 

"  Yes,"  chimed  in  Mr.  Piper  irritably;  "  what 
do  you  mean  by  making  such  an  infernal  hub- 
bub?" 

"  Open  the  door,  and  let  me  out,"  returned 
Paul  eagerly. 


162  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

The  party  looked  at  each  other  in  surprise. 
They  did  not  expect  to  find  the  desperate  maniac 
a  boy. 

"  Perhaps  there's  more  than  one  of  them,"  sug- 
gested the  second  servant  prudently. 

"  Why  don't  you  come  out  yourself  ?  "  asked 
James. 

"  I  am  locked  in." 

The  door  was  opened  with  a  passkey,  and  Paul 
confronted  the  party. 

"  Now  young  man,  what  do  you  mean  by  mak- 
ing such  a  disturbance  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Piper 
excitably.  "  My  room  is  just  below,  and  I  ex- 
pected every  minute  you  would  come  through  the 
ceiling." 

"  I  am  sorry  if  I  disturbed  you,  sir,"  said  Paul 
politely;  "  but  it  was  the  only  way  I  could  attract 
attention." 

"  How  came  you  locked  up  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  chimed  in  James  suspiciously,  "  how 
came  you  locked  up  here?  " 

"  I  was  drugged  with  chloroform,  and  locked 
in,"  said  Paul. 

"Who  did  it?" 

"Mr.  Felix  Montgomery;  or  that's  »vhat  he 
called  himself.  I  came  here  by  appointment  to 
meet  him." 

"What  did  he  do  that  for?" 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  163 

"  He  has  carried  off  a  diamond  ring  which  I 
came  up  here  to  sell  him." 

"  A  very  improbable  story,"  said  Mr.  Piper 
suspiciously.  "  What  should  such  a  boy  have  to 
do  with  a  diamond  ring?" 

Nothing  is  easier  than  to  impart  suspicion. 
Men  are  prone  to  believe  evil  of  each  other;  and 
Paul  was  destined  to  realize  this.  The  hotel  ser- 
vants, ignorant  and  suspicious,  caught  the  sug- 
gestion. 

"  It's  likely  he's  a  thafe,"  said  Bridget. 

"  If  I  were,"  said  Paul  coolly,  "  I  shouldn't  be 
apt  to  call  your  attention  to  such  a  noise.  I  can 
prove  to  you  that  I  am  telling  the  truth.  I 
stopped  at  the  office,  and  the  bookkeeper  sent  a 
servant  to  show  me  up  here." 

"  If  this  is  true,"  said  Mr.  Piper,  "  why,  when 
you  found  yourself  locked  in,  didn't  you  ring  the 
bell,  instead  of  making  such  a  confounded 
racket?  My  nerves  won't  get  over  it  for  a 
week." 

"  I  didn't  think  of  the  bell,"  said  Paul;  "  I  am 
not  much  used  to  hotels." 

"  What  will  we  do  with  him  ?  "  asked  James, 
looking  to  Mr.  Piper  for  counsel. 

"  You'd  better  take  him  downstairs,  and  see 
if  his  story  is  correct,"  said  the  nervous  gentle- 
man, with  returning  good  sense. 


164  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"I'll  do  it,"  said  James,  to  whom  the  very 
obvious  suggestion  seemed  marked  by  extraordi- 
nary wisdom,  and  he  grasped  Paul  roughly  by  the 
arm. 

"  You  needn't  hold  me,"  said  our  hero,  shaking 
off  the  grasp.  "  I  haven't  any  intention  of  run- 
ning away.  I  want  to  find  out,  if  I  can,  what  has 
become  of  the  man  that  swindled  me." 

James  looked  doubtfully  at  Mr.  Piper. 

"  I  don't  think  he  means  to  run  away,"  said 
that  gentleman.  "  I  begin  to  think  his  story  is 
correct.  And  hark  you,  my  young  friend,  if  you 
ever  get  locked  up  in  a  hotel  room  again,  just  see 
if  there  is  a  bell  before  you  make  such  a  con- 
founded racket." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  will,"  said  Paul,  half-smiling;  "  but 
I'll  take  care  not  to  get  locked  up  again.  It  won't 
be  easy  for  anybody  to  play  that  trick  on  me 
again." 

The  party  filed  downstairs  to  the  office,  and 
Paul  told  his  story  to  the  bookkeeper. 

"  Have  you  seen  Mr.  Montgomery  go  out  ?  " 
asked  our  hero. 

"  Yes,  he  went  out  half  an  hour  ago,  or  perhaps 
more.  He  left  his  key  at  the  desk,  but  said  noth- 
ing. He  seemed  to  be  in  a  hurry." 

"  You  didn't  notice  in  what  direction  he 
went?" 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  165 

"  No." 

Of  course  no  attempt  was  made  to  detain  Paul. 
There  could  be  no  case  against  him.  He  went 
out  of  the  hotel,  and  looked  up  and  down  Broad- 
way in  a  state  of  indecision.  He  did  not  mean  to 
sit  down  passively  and  submit  to  the  swindle. 
But  he  had  no  idea  in  what  direction  to  search  for 
Mr.  Felix  Montgomery. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

PAUL    DELIBERATES 

Paul  stood  in  the  street  irresolute.  He  looked 
hopelessly  up  and  down  Broadway,  but  of  course 
the  jeweler  from  Syracuse  was  not  to  be  seen. 
Seeking  for  him  in  a  city  containing  hundreds  of 
streets  and  millions  of  inhabitants  was  about  as 
discouraging  as  hunting  for  a  needle  in  a  hay- 
stack. But  difficult  as  it  was,  Paul  was  by  no 
means  ready  to  give  up  the  search.  Indeed,  be- 
sides the  regret  he  felt  at  the  loss,  he  was  mortified 
at  having  been  so  easily  outwitted. 

"  He's  taken  me  in  just  as  if  I  was  a  country 
boy,"  thought  Paul.  "  I  dare  say  he's  laughing 
at  me  now.  I  should  like  to  get  even  with 
him." 

Finally  he  decided  to  go  to  Tiffany's,  and  ask 
them  to  detain  anyone  who  might  bring  in  the  ring 
and  offer  it  for  sale.  He  at  once  acted  upon  this 
thought,  and,  hailing  a  Broadway  stage,  for  no 
time  was  to  be  lost,  soon  reached  his  destina- 
tion. 

166 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  167 

Entering  the  store,  he  walked  up  to  the  counter 
and  addressed  the  clerk  to  whom  he  had  before 
shown  the  ring1. 

"  Do  you  remember  my  offering  you  a  diamond 
ring  for  sale  this  morning?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  I  remember  it  very  well.  Have  you  got 
it  with  you  ?  " 

"  No,  it  has  been  stolen  from  me." 

"Indeed!  How  was  that?"  asked  the  clerk, 
with  interest. 

"  I  met  in  the  cars  a  well-dressed  man,  who 
called  himself  a  jeweler  from  Syracuse.  He  ex- 
amined the  ring,  and  offered  me  more  than  Mr. 
Tiffany,  but  asked  me  to  bring  it  to  him  at  Love- 
joy's  Hotel.  When  I  got  there,  he  drugged  me 
with  chloroform,  and  when  I  recovered  he  was 
gone." 

"  You  have  been  unlucky.  There  are  plenty  of 
such  swindlers  about.  You  should  have  been 
careful  about  displaying  the  ring  before  stran- 
gers." 

"  I  was  showing  it  to  a  friend." 

"  Have  you  notified  the  police?  " 

"  Not  yet.  I  came  here  to  let  you  know,  be- 
cause I  thought  the  thief  might  bring  it  in  here  to 
sell." 

"  Very  likely.  Give  me  a  description  of 
him." 


168  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

Paul  described  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  to  the 
best  of  his  ability. 

"  I  think  I  should  know  him  from  your  descrip- 
tion. I  will  speak  to  Mr.  Tiffany,  and  he  will  no 
doubt  give  orders  to  detain  any  person  who  may 
offer  the  ring  for  sale." 

"  Thank  you." 

"  If  you  will  give  me  your  address,  we  will 
nptify  you  in  case  the  ring  is  brought  in." 

Paul  left  his  address,  and  went  out  of  the  store, 
feeling  that  he  had  taken  one  step  toward  the  re- 
covery of  his  treasure.  He  next  visited  the  police 
headquarters,  and  left  a  detailed  description  of  the 
man  who  had  relieved  him  of  the  ring,  and  of  the 
circumstances  attending  the  robbery.  Then  he 
went  home. 

His  mother  looked  up  as  he  entered. 

"  Well,  Paul  ?  "  she  said  inquiringly. 

"  I've  bad  news  to  communicate,  mother,"  he 
said. 

"  What  is  it?  Tell  me  quick !  "  she  said  nerv- 
ously. 

"  The  ring  from  which  we  expected  so  much 
has  been  stolen  from  me." 

"  How  did  it  happen,  Paul  ?  " 

"  First,  I  must  tell  you  how  much  the  ring  is 
worth.  I  went  up  to  Tiffany's,  and  showed  the 
ring  to  Mr.  Tiffany  himself.  He  told  me  that  he 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  169 

would  give  me  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for 
it,  if  I  would  satisfy  him  that  I  had  the  right  to 
sell  it." 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars ! "  repeated 
Mrs.  Hoffman  in  amazement. 

"  Yes,  the  diamond  is  very  large  and  pure." 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  would  be  a 
great  help  to  us." 

"  Yes,  mother,  that  is  what  makes  me  feel  so 
bad  about  being  swindled  out  of  it." 

"  Tell  me  how  it  happened.  Is  there  no  chance 
of  recovering  it  ?  " 

"  A  little.  I  shall  do  what  I  can.  I  have  al- 
ready notified  the  police,  and  also  Mr.  Tif- 
fany." 

"  You  have  not  told  me  how  you  came  to  lose 
it." 

When  Paul  had  told  the  story,  his  mother 
asked,  "  Did  you  mention  it  in  the  cars  that  you 
had  offered  it  at  Tiffany's?" 

"  Yes,  and  I  mentioned  his  offer." 

"Perhaps  the  thief  would  be  cautious  about 
going  there,  for  that  very  reason.  He  might 
think  the  ring  would  be  recognized." 

"  He  would  go  to  a  large  place,  thinking  that 
so  valuable  a  ring  would  be  more  readily  pur- 
chased there." 

"  He  might  go  to  Ball  &  Black's." 


i/o  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  That  is  true." 

"  It  would  be  well  to  give  notice  there 
also." 

"  I  will  go  up  there  at  once.  I  only  wish  I 
could  meet  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery;  I  don't  think 
he  would  find  it  so  easy  to  outreach  me  a  second 
time." 

"  Take  some  dinner  first,  Paul." 

"  Then  I  must  hurry  it  down,  mother ;  I  don't 
want  to  run  the  risk  of  getting  too  late  to  Ball  & 
Black's.  I  can't  help  thinking  what  a  splendid 
thing  it  would  be  if  we  had  the  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  I  would  buy  out  Barry's  stand,  and 
I  would  get  a  sewing-machine  for  you,  and  we 
could  live  much  more  comfortably.  It  makes  me 
mad  to  think  I  let  that  villain  take  me  in  so !  He 
must  think  me  jolly  green." 

"Anybody  might  have  been  deceived,  Paul. 
You  mustn't  blame  yourself  too  much  for 
that." 

Leaving  Paul  on  his  way  to  Ball  &  Black's,  we 
return  to  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery,  as  we  shall  con- 
tinue to  call  him,  though  he  had  no  right  to  the 
name.  After  stupefying  Paul,  as  already  de- 
scribed, he  made  his  way  downstairs,  and,  leaving 
his  key  at  the  desk,  went  out. 

"  I  hope  my  young  friend  will  enjoy  himself 
upstairs,"  he  chuckled  to  himself.  "  He's  quite 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  171 

welcome  to  the  use  of  the  room  till  to-morrow 
morning.  It's  paid  for  in  advance,  and  I  don't 
think  that  I  shall  find  it  convenient  to  stop 
there." 

He  took  the  ring  from  his  vest  pocket  and 
glanced  at  it  furtively. 

"  It's  a  beauty,"  he  murmured  complacently. 
"  I  never  saw  a  handsomer  ring  of  the  size. 
What  was  it  the  boy  said  he  was  offered  for  it? 
Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars !  That  '11  give  me 
a  lift,  and  it  doesn't  come  any  too  soon.  My 
money  is  pretty  low." 

He  walked  across  the  City  Hall  Park,  and  at 
Barclay  Street  entered  a  University  place 
car. 

"  Evenin'  paper,  mister  ?  "  said  a  ragged  news- 
boy, whose  garments,  like  those  of  most  of  his 
class,  were  constructed  on  the  most  approved  sys- 
tem of  ventilation. 

"  What  have  you  got  ?  " 

"  '  Evenin'  Post,'  '  Mail,'  '  Express  ' !  " 

"  Give  me  an  '  Express.'  Here  is  ten- 
cents." 

"  I  haven't  got  but  three  cents  change, 
mister." 

"  Never  mind  the  change,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, in  a  fit  of  temporary  generosity,  occa- 
sioned by  his  good  luck. 


172  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  the  newsboy,  regarding 
Mr.  Montgomery  as  a  philanthropist  worthy  of 
his  veneration. 

Felix  Montgomery  leaned  back  in  his  seat,  and, 
with  a  benevolent  smile,  ran  his  eyes  over  the 
columns  of  the  "  Express."  Among  the  para- 
graphs which  attracted  his  attention  was  one  re- 
lating to  a  comrade,  of  similar  profession,  who 
had  just  been  arrested  in  Albany  while  in  the 
act  of  relieving  a  gentleman  of  his  pocket- 
book. 

"  Jerry  always  was  a  bungler,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, complacently,  to  himself.  "  He  can't 
hold  a  candle  to  me.  I  flatter  myself  that  I  know 
how  to  manage  a  little  affair,  like  this,  for  in- 
stance, as  well  as  the  next  man.  It'll  take  a  sharp 
detective  to  lay  hold  of  me." 

It  might  have  been  thought  that  the  manner  in 
which  he  had  gained  possession  of  the  ring  would 
have  troubled  Mr.  Montgomery,  but  it  was  many 
years  since  he  had  led  an  honest  life.  He  had 
made  a  living  by  overreaching  others,  and  his 
conscience  had  become  so  blunt  .d  as  to  occasion 
him  little  trouble.  He  appeared  to  think  that  the 
world  owed  him  a  living,  and  that  he  was  quite 
justified  in  collecting  the  debt  in  any  way  he 
could. 

About  twenty  minutes  brought  the  car  to  Amity 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  173 

Street.  Mr.  Montgomery  signaled  the  conductor, 
and,  the  car  being  stopped,  he  got  out. 

He  walked  a  few  rods  in  a  westerly  direction, 
and  paused  before  a  three-story  brick  house  which 
appeared  to  have  seen  better  days.  It  was  now 
used  as  a  boarding,  or  rather  lodging-house. 
The  guests  were  not  of  a  very  high  character,  the 
landlady  not  being  particular  as  long  as  her  rent 
was  paid  regularly.  Mr.  Montgomery  ascended 
the  steps  in  a  jaunty  way,  and,  opening  the  door 
with  a  passkey,  ascended  the  front  staircase.  He 
paused  before  a  room  on  the  third  floor,  and 
knocked  in  a  peculiar  manner. 

The  door  was  opened  by  a  tall  woman,  in  rather 
neglected  attire. 

"  So  you're  back,"  she  said. 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  home  again.  As  the  poet  says, 
*  There  is  no  pi  ce  like  home.'  " 

"  I  should  hope  there  wasn't,"  said  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery, looking  about  her  disdainfully.  "  A 
very  delightful  home  it  makes  with  such  a  charm- 
ing prospect  of  the  back  yard.  I've  been  moping 
here  all  day." 

"You've  found  something  to  console  you,  I 
see,"  said  her  husband,  glancing  at  the  table,  on 
which  might  be  seen  a  bottle  of  brandy,  half- 
emptied,  and  a  glass. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery;  "  I  felt  so  bad 


1/4  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

I  had  to  send  out  for  something.  It  took  every 
cent  I  had.  And,  by  the  way,  Mrs.  Flagg  sent  in 
her  bill,  this  morning,  for  the  last  two  weeks' 
board;  she  said  she  must  have  it." 

"  My  dear,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery,  "  she  shall 
have  it." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  you've  got  the  money, 
Tony ! "  exclaimed  his  wife,  in  surprise. 

"  No,  I  haven't  got  the  money;  but  I've  got 
what's  just  as  good." 

"  What  have  you  got  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  say  to  this  ?  "  and  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery drew  from  his  pocket  the  diamond  ring, 
whose  loss  was  so  deeply  felt  by  our  hero. 

"  Is  that  genuine?  "  asked  the  lady. 

"  It's  the  real  thing." 

"  What  a  beauty !     Where  did  you  get  it?  " 

"  It  was  kindly  presented  me  by  a  young  man 
of  the  tender  age  of  fifteen  or  thereabouts,  who 
had  no  further  use  for  it." 

"  You  did  him  out  of  it,  that  is.  Tell  me  how 
you  did  it." 

Mr.  Montgomery  told  the  story.  His  wife 
listened  with  interest  and  appreciation. 

"  That  was  a  smart  operation,  Tony,"  she 
said. 

"  I  should  say  it  was,  Maria." 

"  How  much  is  the  ring  worth  ?  " 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  175 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 

"  Can  you  get  that  for  it?  " 

"  I  can  get  that  for  it." 

"  Tony,  you  are  a  treasure." 

"  Have  you  just  found  that  out,  my  dear?  " 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE   THIEF    IN    DISGUISE 

It  will  be  inferred,  from  the  preceding  conver- 
sation, that  Mrs.  Montgomery  was  not  likely  to 
be  shocked  by  the  lack  of  honesty  in  her  husband. 
Her  conscience  was  as  elastic  as  his,  and  she  was 
perfectly  willing  to  help  him  spend  his  unlawful 
gains. 

"  How  soon  are  you  going  to  sell  the  ring?  " 
she  asked. 

"  I  should  like  to  dispose  of  it  at  once,  Maria." 

"  You  will  need  to.  Mrs.  Flagg  wants  her  bill 
paid  at  once." 

"  I  quite  understand  the  necessity  of  prompt- 
ness, my  dear.  Only,  you  know,  one  has  to  be 
cautious  about  disposing  of  articles  obtained  in 
this  way." 

"  You  say  you  left  the  boy  locked  up.  It 
seems  to  me  you'd  better  sell  the  ring  before 
he  has  a  chance  to  get  out  and  interfere." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you're  right,  my  dear. 
Well,  we'll  get  ready." 

176 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  177 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  go  with  you  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  it  will  disarm  suspicion  if  you  are  witH 
ine.  I  think  I'll  go  as  a  country  parson." 

"  Country  parsons  are  not  apt  to  have  dia- 
mond rings  to  dispose  of." 

"  Very  true,  my  dear.  The  remark  does  credit 
to  your  good  judgment  and  penetration.  But  I 
know  how  to  get  over  that." 

"As  how?" 

"  Be  a  little  more  particular  about  your  speech, 
my  dear.  Remember,  you  are  a  minister's  wife, 
and  must  use  refined  expressions.  What  is  easier 
than  to  say  that  the  ring  was  given  me  by  a  benev- 
olent lady  of  rny  congregation,  to  dispose  of  for 
the  benefit  of  the  poor  ?  " 

"  Well  thought  of,  Tony.  You've  got  a  good 
headpiece." 

"  You're  right,  my  dear.  I  don't  like  to  in- 
dulge in  self-praise,  but  I  believe  I  know  a  thing 
or  two.  And  now  for  the  masquerade.  Where 
are  the  duds?" 

"  In  the  black  trunk." 

'Then  we'd  better  lose  no  time  in  putting  them 
on." 

Without  describing  the  process  of  transforma- 
tion in  detail,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  say  that  the 
next  twenty  minutes  wrought  a  decided  change  in 
the  appearance  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Felix 


178  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

gomery.  The  former  was  arrayed  in  a  suit  of 
canonical  black,  not  of  the  latest  cut.  A  white 
neckcloth  was  substituted  for  the  more  gaudy 
article  worn  by  the  jeweler  from  Syracuse,  and  a 
pair  of  silver-bowed  spectacles,  composed  of  plain 
glass,  lent  a  scholarly  air  to  his  face.  His  hair 
was  combed  behind  his  ears ;  and,  so  far  as  appear- 
ance went,  he  quite  looked  the  character  of  a 
clergyman  from  the  rural  districts. 

"  How  will  I  do,  my  dear  ?  "  he  asked  com- 
placently. 

"  Tiptop,"  answered  the  lady.  "  How  do  I 
look?" 

Mrs.  Montgomery  had  put  on  a  dress  of  sober 
tint,  and  scant  circumference,  contrasting  in  a 
marked  manner  with  the  mode  then  prevailing. 
A  very  plain  collar  encircled  her  neck.  Her 
hands  were  incased  in  brown  silk  gloves,  while 
her  husband  wore  black  kids.  Her  bonnet  was 
exceedingly  plain,  and  her  whole  costume  was  al- 
most Quaker-like  in  its  simplicity. 

Her  husband  surveyed  her  with  satisfaction. 

"  My  dear,"  he  said,  "  you  are  a  fitting  help- 
mate for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Center. 
By  Jove,  you  do  me  credit !  " 

"  *  By  Jove '  is  not  a  proper  expression  for  a 
man  of  your  profession,  Mr.  Barnes,"  said  the 
new  minister's  wife,  with  a  smile. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  179 

"  You  are  right,  my  dear.  I  must  eschew  pro- 
fanity, and  cultivate  a  decorous  style  of  speech. 
Well,  are  we  ready  ?  " 

"  I  am." 

"  Then  let  us  set  forth  on  our  pilgrimage.  We 
will  imagine,  Mrs.  Barnes,  that  we  are  about  to 
make  some  pastoral  calls." 

They  emerged  into  the  street.  On  the  way 
downstairs  they  met  Mrs.  Flagg,  the  landlady, 
who  bowed  respectfully.  She  was  somewhat 
puzzled,  however,  not  knowing  when  they  were 
let  in. 

"  Good-morning,  madam,"  said  Mr.  Barnes. 
41  Are  you  the  landlady  of  this  establishment?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  have  been  calling  on  one  of  your  lodgers- 
Mr.  Anthony  Blodgett  (this  was  the  name  by 
which  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  was  known  in  the 
house).  He  is  a  very  worthy  man." 

Now,  to  tell  the  truth,  Mrs.  Flagg  had  not  been 
particularly  struck  by  the  moral  worth  of  her 
lodger,  and  this  testimony  led  her  to  entertain 
doubts  as  to  the  discernment  of  her  clerical  visitor. 

"  You  know  him,  then  ?  " 

"  I  know  him  as  myself,  madam.  Have  you 
never  heard  him  mention  the  name  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Center,  Connecticut?" 

"  I  can't  say  I  have,"  answered  the  landlady. 


i8o  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  That  is  singular.  We  were  always  very  in- 
timate. We  attended  the  same  school  as  boys, 
and,  in  fact,  were  like  Damon  and  Pythias." 

Mrs.  Flagg  had  never  heard  of  Damon  and 
Pythias,  still  she  understood  the  comparison. 

"  You're  in  rather  a  different  line  now,"  she 
remarked  dryly. 

"  Yes,  our  positions  are  different.  My  friend 
dwells  in  the  busy  metropolis,  while  I  pass  a  quiet, 
peaceful  existence  in  a  secluded  country  village, 
doing  what  good  I  can.  But,  my  dear,  we  are 
perhaps  detaining  this  worthy  lady  from  her 
domestic  avocations.  I  think  we  must  be  going." 

"  Very  well,  I  am  ready." 

The  first  sound  of  her  voice  drew  the  attention 
of  the  landlady.  Mrs.  Felix  Montgomery  pos- 
sessed a  thin,  somewhat  shrill,  voice,  which  she  was 
unable  to  conceal,  and,  looking  attentively  at  her, 
Mrs.  Flagg  penetrated  her  disguise.  Then,  turn- 
ing quickly  to  the  gentleman,  aided  by  her  new 
discovery,  she  also  recognized  him. 

"  Well,  I  declare,"  said  she,  "  if  you  didn't  take 
me  in  beautifully." 

Mr.  Montgomery  laughed  heartily. 

"  You  wouldn't  know  me,  then  ?  "  he  said. 

"  You're  got  up  excellent,"  said  Mrs.  Flagg, 
•with  a  slight  disregard  for  grammar.  "Is  it  a 
joke?" 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  i8t 

"  Yes,  a  little  practical  joke.  We're  going  ta 
call  on  some  friends,  and  see  if  they  know  us." 

"  You'd  do  for  the  theater,"  said  the  landlady 
admiringly. 

"  I  flatter  myself  I  might  have  done  something 
on  the  stage,  if  my  attention  had  been  turned  that 
way.  But,  my  dear,  we  must  be  moving,  or  we 
shan't  get  through  our  calls." 

"  I  wonder  what  mischief  they  are  up  to  now," 
thought  Mrs.  Flagg,  as  she  followed  them  to  the 
door.  "  I  know  better  than  to  think  they'd  take 
the  trouble  to  dress  up  that  way  just  to  take  in 
their  friends.  No,  they're  up  to  some  game.  Not 
that  I  care,  as  long  as  they  get  money  enough  to 
pay  my  bill." 

So  the  worldly-wise  landlady  dismissed  them 
at  once  from  her  thoughts,  and  went  about  her 
work. 

Mr.  Barnes  and  wife  walked  up  toward  Broad- 
way at  a  slow,  decorous  pace,  suited  to  the  char- 
acter they  had  assumed.  More  than  one  who  met 
them  turned  back  to  look  at  what  they  considered 
a  perfect  type  of  the  country  minister  and  his  wife. 
They  would  have  been  not  a  little  surprised  to 
learn  that  under  this  quiet  garb  walked  two  of  the 
most  accomplished  swindlers  in  a  city  abounding 
in  adventurers  of  all  kinds. 

Mr.  Barnes  paused  a  moment  to  reprove  a 


182  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

couple  of  urchins  who  were  pitching  pennies  on 
the  sidewalk. 

"  Don't  you  know  that  it's  wrong  to  pitch  pen- 
nies? "  he  said  gravely. 

"  None  of  your  chaff,  mister,"  retorted  one  of 
the  street  boys  irreverently.  "  When  did  you 
come  from  the  country,  old  Goggles  ?  " 

"  My  son,  you  should  address  me  with  more 
respect." 

"Just  get  out  of  the  way,  mister!  I  don't 
want  to  hear  no  preachin'." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  have  been  badly  brought  up, 
my  son." 

"  I  ain't  your  son,  and  I  wouldn't  be  for  a 
shillin'.  Just  you  go  along,  and  let  me  alone !  " 

"  A  sad  case  of  depravity,  my  dear,"  remarked 
Mr.  Barnes  to  his  wife.  "  I  fear  we  must  leave 
these  boys  to  their  evil  ways." 

"  You'd  better,"  said  one  of  the  boys. 

"  They're  smart  little  rascals !  "  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, when  they  were  out  of  hearing  of  the 
boys.  "  I  took  them  in,  though.  They  thought 
I  was  the  genuine  article." 

"  We'd  better  not  waste  any  more  time,"  said 
his  wife.  "  That  boy  might  get  out,  you  know, 
and  give  us  trouble." 

"  I  don't  believe  he  will  get  out  in  a  hurry.  I 
locked  the  door,  and  he'd  have  to  pound  some  time 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER:         183 

before  he  could  make  anyone  hear.  I  declare,  I 
should  like  to  see  how  he  looked  when  he  recov- 
ered from  his  stupor,  and  realized  that  his  ring 
was  gone." 

"  What  sort  of  a  boy  was  he,  Tony  ?  " 

"  Better  not  call  me  by  that  name,  my  dear.  It 
might  be  heard,  you  know,  and  might  not  be  con- 
sidered in  character.  As  to  your  question,  he 
was  by  no  means  a  stupid  boy.  Rather  sharpish, 
I  should  say." 

"  Then  how  came  he  to  let  you  take  him 
in?" 

"  As  to  that,  I  claim  to  be  rather  sharp  myself, 
and  quite  a  match  even  for  a  smart  boy.  I 
haven't  knocked  about  the  world  forty-four  years 
for  nothing." 

They  were  now  in  Broadway.  Turning  the 
corner  of  Amity  Street,  they  walked  a  short  dis- 
tance downtown,  and  then  paused  before  the  hand- 
some jewelry  store  of  Ball  &  Black. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  go  in  here,"  said  Felix 
Montgomery — (I  hesitate  a  little  by  which  of  his 
numerous  names  to  call  him). 

"  Why  not  go  to  Tiffany's  ?  " 

"  I  gather  from  what  the  boy  told  me  that  the 
ring  has  already  been  offered  there.  It  would 
be  very  likely  to  be  recognized,  and  that  would  be 
awkward,  you  know." 


184  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Are  you  sure  the  ring  has  not  been  offered 
here?  "  asked  his  wife. 

"  Quite  sure.  The  boy  would  have  mentioned 
it,  had  such  been  the  case." 

"  Very  well.     Let  us  go  in  then." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes  and  his  wife,  of  Hayfield 
Center,  entered  the  elegant  store,  and  ten  minutes 
later  Paul  Hoffman  entered  also,  and  took  his  sta- 
tion at  the  counter,  wholly  unconscious  of  the  near 
proximity  of  the  man  who  had  so  artfully  swin- 
dled him. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

PAUL    IS    CHECKMATED 

On  entering  the  large  jewelry  store,  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery and  his  wife  walked  to  the  rear  of  the 
store,  and  advanced  to  the  counter,  behind  which 
stood  a  clerk  unengaged. 

"  What  shall  I  show  you  ? "  he  inquired 
politely. 

"  I  didn't  come  to  purchase,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, with  suavity,  "but  to  sell.  I  suppose 
it  is  your  custom  to  purchase  jewelry  at 
times." 

"  Sometimes,"  said  the  clerk.  "  Let  me  see 
what  you  have." 

"  First,"  said  the  adventurer,  "  let  me  intro- 
duce myself.  I  am  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes,  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Hayfield  Center,  Connecticut. 
It  is  possible  that  you  are  acquainted  with  the 
place  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  I  remember  it,"  said  the  clerk 
respectfully. 

"It  is  a  small  place,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery 
185 


186  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

modestly,  "  but  my  tastes  are  plain  and  unobtru- 
sive, and  I  do  not  aspire  to  a  more  conspicuous 
post.  However,  that  is  not  to  the  purpose.  A 
lady  parishioner,  desiring  to  donate  a  portion  of 
her  wealth  to  the  poor,  has  placed  in  my  hand  a 
diamond  ring,  the  proceeds  to  be  devoted  to  char- 
itable objects.  I  desire  to  sell  it,  and,  knowing 
the  high  reputation  of  your  firm  feel  safe  in  offer- 
ing it  to  you.  I  know  very  little  of  the  value  of 
such  things,  since  they  are  not  in  my  line,  but  I 
am  sure  I  shall  receive  fair  treatment  at  your 
hands." 

"  You  may  depend  upon  that,"  said  the  clerk, 
favorably  impressed  with  the  appearance  and  man- 
ners of  his  customer.  "Allow  me  to  see  the 
ring." 

The  brilliant  was  immediately  handed  over  the 
counter. 

"  It  is  quite  valuable,"  said  he,  scrutinizing  it 
closely. 

"  So  I-  supposed,  as  the  lady  is  possessed  of 
wealth.  You  may  rely  upon  its  being  gen- 
uine." 

"  I  am  not  authorized  to  purchase  anything," 
said  the  clerk,  "  but  I  will  show  it  to  one  of  the 
firm." 

Just  at  that  moment,  Mr.  Montgomery,  chanc- 
ing to  look  toward  the  door,  was  startled  by  see- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  187 

ing  the  entrance  of  Paul  Hoffman.  He  saw  that 
he  would  place  himself  and  his  wife  in  great  peril 
if  he  attempted  to  carry  the  negotiation  any  far- 
ther, and  he  quickly  gave  a  secret  signal  to  his 
wife. 

The  hint  was  instantly  understood  and  acted 
upon. 

Mrs.  Montgomery  uttered  a  slight  cry,  and  as 
though  attacked  with  sudden  weakness,  clung  to 
her  husband's  arm. 

"  My  dear,"  she  said  excitedly,  "  I  feel  one  of 
my  attacks  coming  on.  Please  take  me  out  of 
doors  quickly." 

"  My  wife  is  suddenly  taken  sick,"  said  Mr. 
Montgomery  hurriedly.  "  She  is  subject  to  fits. 
If  you  will  give  me  the  ring,  I  will  return  to-mor- 
row and  negotiate  for  its  sale." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,"  said  the  clerk,  with  sym- 
pathy, handing  back  the  ring.  "  Can  I  get  any- 
thing for  the  lady?  " 

"  No,  thank  you.  The  best  thing  to  do  is  to 
get  her  into  the  open  air.  Thank  you  for  your 
kindness." 

"  Let  me  help  you,"  said  the  clerk,  and  coming 
from  behind  the  counter  he  took  one  arm  of  Mrs. 
Montgomery,  who,  leaning  heavily  on  her  hus- 
band and  the  clerk,  walked,  or  rather  was  carried, 
to  the  street  door. 


1 88  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

Of  course,  the  attention  of  all  within  the  store 
was  drawn  to  the  party. 

"  What  was  the  matter  ?  "  inquired  a  fellow- 
clerk,  as  the  salesman  returned. 

"  It  was  a  clergyman  from  Connecticut,  who 
wished  to  sell  a  diamond  ring,  given  to  him  for 
charitable  purposes.  His  wife  was  taken  sud- 
denly sick.  He  says  he  will  bring  it  back  to- 
morrow." 

"  Was  the  ring  a  valuable  one  ?  " 

"  It  must  be  worth  in  the  neighborhood  of  three 
hundred  dollars." 

Paul  listened  to  this  explanation,  and  a  sudden 
light  flashed  upon  him,  as  he  heard  the  estimated 
value  of  the  ring.  There  had  been  something 
familiar  in  the  appearance  of  the  adventurer, 
though,  on  account  of  his  successful  disguise  and 
his  being  accompanied  by  a  lady,  he  had  not  before 
felt  any  suspicion  as  to  his  identity  with  the  man 
who  had  swindled  him.  Now  he  felt  convinced 
that  it  was  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery,  and  he  be- 
lieved that  it  was  his  own  appearance  which  led  to 
the  sudden  sickness  and  the  precipitate  depar- 
ture. 

"  That  trick  won't  work,  Mr.  Montgomery,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "  I've  got  on  your  track  sooner 
than  I  anticipated,  and  I  mean  to  follow  you 
up." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  189 

Reaching  the  sidewalk,  he  caught  sight  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Montgomery  just  turning  the  corner  of 
a  side  street.  The  pair  supposed  they  were  safe, 
not  thinking  that  our  hero  had  recognized  them, 
and  the  lady  no  longer  exhibited  illness,  and  was 
walking  briskly  at  her  husband's  side.  Paul  hur- 
ried up,  and  tapped  the  adventurer  on  the 
shoulder. 

Mr.  Montgomery,  turning,  was  somewhat  an- 
noyed on  finding  that  he  not  yet  escaped.  He  de- 
termined, however,  to  stick  to  his  false  character, 
and  deny  all  knowledge  of  the  morning's  trans- 
action. 

"  Well,  my  young  friend,"  he  said,  "  do  you 
want  me?  I  believe  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of 
your  acquaintance." 

"You  are  mistaken  there,  Mr.  Felix  Mont- 
gomery," said  Paul  significantly. 

"  By  what  name  did  you  address  me?  "  said  the 
swindler,  very  cleverly,  assuming  a  tone  of  sur- 
prise. 

"  I  addressed  you  as  Mr.  Felix  Mont- 
gomery." 

"  You  have  made  a  mistake,  my  good  friend.  I 
am  an  humble  clergyman  from  Connecticut.  I 
am  called  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes.  Should  you  ever 
visit  Hayfield  Center  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  a 
call  from  you." 


190  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  When  I  last  met  you,  you  were  a  jeweler  from 
Syracuse,"  said  Paul  bluntly. 

Mr.  Montgomery  laughed  heartily. 

"  My  dear,"  he  said,  turning  to  his  wife,  "  is 
not  this  an  excellent  joke  ?  My  young  friend  here 
thinks  he  recognizes  in  me  a  jeweler  from  Syra- 
cuse." 

"  Indeed,  you  are  quite  mistaken,"  said  the 
lady.  "  My  husband  is  a  country  minister.  We 
came  up  to  the  city  this  morning  on  a  little  busi- 
ness." 

"  I  understand  on  what  business  you  are  here," 
said  Paul.  "  You  wanted  to  dispose  of  a  dia- 
mond ring." 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  disposed  to  deny  the 
charge,  but  a  moment's  reflection  convinced  him 
that  it  would  be  useless,  as  Paul  had  doubtless 
been  informed  in  Ball  &  Black's  of  his  business 
there.  He  decided  to  put  on  a  bold  front  and 
admit  it. 

"  I  suppose  you  were  in  Ball  &  Black's  just 
now,"  he  said. 

"  I  was." 

"  And  so  learned  my  business  there  ?  But  I 
am  at  a  loss  to  understand  why  you  should  be 
interested  in  the  matter." 

"  That  ring  is  mine,"  said  Paul.  "  You  swin- 
dled me  out  of  it  this  morning." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  191 

"  My  young  friend,  you  must  certainly  be  in- 
sane," said  Mr.  Montgomery,  shrugging  fiis 
shoulders.  "  My  dear,  did  you  hear  what  this 
boy  says?" 

"  He  is  an  impudent  boy,"  said  the  lady.  "  I 
am  surprised  that  you  should  be  willing  to  talk  to 
him." 

"  If  you  leave  here  I  will  put  a  policeman  on 
your  track,"  said  Paul. 

He  looked  so  determined  that  Mr.  Montgomery 
found  that  he  must  parley. 

"  You  are  under  a  strange  hallucination,  my 
young  friend,"  he  said.  "  If  you  will  walk  along 
with  me,  I  think  I  can  convince  you  of  your  mis- 
take." 

"There  is  no  mistake  about  the  matter,"  said 
Paul,  walking  on  with  them.  "  The  ring  is  mine, 
and  I  must  have  it." 

"  My  dear,  will  you  explain  about  the  ring? 
He  may  credit  your  testimony." 

"  I  don't  see  that  any  explanation  is  necessary," 
said  the  lady.  "  However,  since  you  wish  it,  I  willl 
say  that  the  ring  was  handed  you  by  Mrs.  Benton,. 
a  wealthy  lady  of  your  parish,  with  instructions : 
to  sell  it,  and  devote  the  proceeds  to  charitable- 
purposes." 

"  Is  that  explanation  satisfactory?  "  asked  Mr. 
Montgomery. 


J.92  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  No;  it  is  not,"  said  Paul  resolutely.  "  I  don't 
believe  one  word  of  it.  I  recognize  you  in  spite 
of  your  dress.  You  gave  me  chloroform  this 
morning  in  a  room  in  Lovejoy's  Hotel,  and  when 
I  was  unconscious  you  made  off  with  the  ring 
which  I  expected  to  sell  you.  You  had  better 
return  it  or  I  will  call  a  policeman  and  have  you 
arrested." 

"  I  am  not  the  person  you  take  me  for,"  said 
Felix  Montgomery. 

"  You  are  the  jeweler  from  Syracuse  who  swin- 
dled me  out  of  my  ring." 

"  I  never  was  a  jeweler,  and  never  lived  in 
Syracuse,"  said  the  adventurer,  with  entire 
truth. 

"  You  may  be  right,  but  that  is  what  you  told 
me  this  morning." 

"  I  wish  you  would  go  away,  and  cease  to  annoy 
us,"  said  the  lady  impatiently. 

"  I  want  my  ring." 

"  We  have  no  ring  of  yours." 

"  Show  me  the  ring,  and  if  it  is  not  mine  I 
will  go  away." 

"  You  are  a  very  impudent  fellow,  upon  my 
word,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery  sharply,  "  to  ac- 
cuse a  gentleman  like  my  husband  of  taking 
your  ring.  I  don't  believe  that  you  ever  had  a 
ring." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  193 

"  My  dear,"  interposed  her  husband  mildly,  "  I 
dare  say  my  young  friend  here  really  thinks  we 
have  his  ring.  Of  course  it  is  a  great  mistake. 
Imagine  what  our  friends  in  Hayfield  Center 
would  think  of  such  a  charge!  But  you  must 
remember  that  he  is  unacquainted  with  my  stand- 
ing in  the  community.  In  order  to  satisfy 
his  mind,  I  am  willing  to  let  him  see  the 
ring." 

"  To  let  him  see  the  ring?  "  repeated  the  lady 
in  surprise. 

"  Yes.  Here,  my  lad,"  taking  the  ring  from 
his  pocket,  "  this  is  the  ring.  You  will  see  at 
once  that  it  is  not  yours." 

"  I  see  that  it  is  mine,"  said  Paul,  taking  the 
proffered  ring,  and  preparing  to  go,  astonished  at 
his  own  good  fortune  in  so  easily  recover- 
ing it. 

"  Not  so  fast !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Montgomery, 
seizing  him  by  the  shoulder.  "  Help !  Po- 
lice!" 

An  officer  had  turned  the  corner  just  before, 
and  it  was  this  that  had  suggested  the  trap.  He 
came  up  quickly,  and,  looking  keenly  from  one  to 
the  other  of  the  group,  inquired  what  was  the 
matter. 

"  This  boy  has  just  purloined  a  valuable  dia- 
mond ring  from  my  wife,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery, 


194  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER    - 

"  Fortunately  for  us,  I  caught  him  in  the 
act." 

"  Give  up  the  ring,  you  young  scoundrel !  "  said 
the  officer,  imposed  upon  by  the  clerical  appear- 
ance of  the  adventurer. 

"  It  is  mine,"  said  Paul. 

"  None  of  your  gammon !  Give  up  the  ring, 
and  come  with  me." 

The  ring  was  restored  to  Mr.  Montgomery, 
who  overwhelmed  the  officer  with  a  profusion  of 
thanks. 

"  It  is  not  a  diamond,  only  an  imitation,"  he 
said;  "  but  my  wife  values  it  as  the  gift  of  a  friend. 
Don't  be  too  hard  on  the  boy.  He  may  not  be  so 
bad  as  he  seems." 

"  I'll  attend  to  him,"  said  the  policeman  em- 
phatically. "  I'll  learn  him  to  rob  ladies  of  rings 
in  the  street.  Come  along  with  me,  you  young 
thief!" 

Paul  tried  to  explain  matters,  but  no  attention 
was  paid  to  his  protestations.  To  his  anger  and 
mortification  he  saw  the  swindler  make  off  trium- 
phantly with  the  ring,  while  he,  the  wronged 
owner,  was  arrested  as  a  thief. 

But  at  the  station-house  he  had  his  revenge. 
He  was  able  to  prove  to  his  captor  that  he  had 
lodged  information  against  Mr.  Montgomery,  and 
the  policeman  in  turn  was  mortified  to  think  how 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  195 

readily  he  had  been  imposed  upon.  Of  course 
there  was  nothing  to  do  but  set  Paul  free  again, 
but  the  officer's  blundering  interference  seemed  to 
render  the  recovery  of  the  ring  more  doubtful 
than  ever. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

A   MAN   OF   RESOURCES 

"  Well,  that  was  a  narrow  escape,"  said  Mr. 
Montgomery,  with  a  sigh  of  relief.  "  I  think  I 
managed  rather  cleverly,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  wanted  to  box  the  boy's  ears,"  said  Mrs. 
Montgomery  sharply. 

"  It  wouldn't  have  been  in  character,  my  dear. 
"  Ha,  ha,"  he  laughed  softly,  "  we  imposed  upon 
the  officer  neatly.  Our  young  friend  got  rather 
the  worst  of  it." 

"  Why  don't  you  call  things  by  their  right 
names  ?  He  isn't  much  of  a  friend." 

"  Names  are  of  no  consequence,  my  dear." 

"  Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  next  ?  "  asked 
the  lady  abruptly. 

"About  the  ring?" 

"  Of  course." 

"  I  hardly  know,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery  re- 
flectively. "  If  it  were  not  for  appearing  too 
anxious,  I  would  go  back  to  Ball  &  Black's  now 
that  our  young  friend  is  otherwise  engaged,  and 
can't  interrupt  us." 

n* 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  197 

"  Suppose  we  go  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  see,  it  might  be  considered  rather 
soon  for  you  to  recover  from  your  fit.  Besides, 
I  don't  know  what  stories  this  boy  may  have 
thought  fit  to  tell  about  us." 

"  He  didn't  have  time  to  say  anything." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right." 

"  We  want  to  dispose  of  the  ring  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  leave  the  city." 

"  That  is  true.  Well,  if  you  say  so,  we  will  go 
back." 

"  It  seems  to  me  now  is  the  best  time.  The 
boy  will  tell  his  story  to  the  officer,  and  we  may 
be  inquired  for." 

"  Then,  my  dear,  I  will  follow  your  advice." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Montgomery  turned,  and  directed 
their  steps  again  toward  Broadway.  The  distance 
was  short,  and  fifteen  minutes  had  scarcely  elapsed 
since  they  left  the  store  before  they  again  entered 
it.  They  made  their  way  to  the  lower  end  of 
the  store  and  accosted  the  same  clerk  with  whom 
they  had  before  spoken. 

"  Is  your  wife  better?  "  he  asked. 

"  Much  better,  thank  you.  A  turn  in  the  air 
always  relieves  her,  and  she  is  quite  herself  again. 
I  have  returned  because  it  is  necessary  for  me  to 
leave  the  city  by  the  evening  train,  and  my  time 
is,  therefore,  short.  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to 


198  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

show  the  ring  to  your  employer,  and  ask  him  il 
he  will  purchase  ?  " 

The  clerk  returned,  and  said  that  the  firm  would 
pay  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  but  must  be 
assured  of  his  right  to  dispose  of  it. 

"  Did  you  mention  my  name?  "  asked  the  ad- 
venturer. 

"  I  mentioned  that  yo«  were  a  clergyman.  I 
could  not  remember  the  name." 

"The  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Center, 
Connecticut.  I  have  been  preaching  there  for  six 
— is  it  six  or  seven  years,  my  dear?  " 

"  Seven,"  said  his  wife. 

"  I  should  think  that  would  be  sufficient.  You 
may  mention  that  to  Mr.  Ball  or  Mr.  Black,  if  you 
please.  I  presume  after  that  he  will  not  be  afraid 
to  purchase." 

Mr.  Montgomery  said  this  with  an  air  of  con- 
scious respectability  and  high  standing,  which 
might  readily  impose  upon  strangers.  But,  by 
bad  luck,  what  he  had  said  was  heard  by  a  person 
able  to  confute  him. 

"  Did  you  say  you  were  from  Hayfield  Cen- 
ter? "  asked  a  gentleman  standing  a  few  feet  dis- 
tant. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery. 

*'  I  think  you  said  your  name  was  Barnes?  " 

*  Yes,  sir." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  199 

"  And  that  you  have  been  preaching  there  for 
the  last  seven  years  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Mr.  Montgomery,  but 
there  was  rather  less  confidence  in  his  tone.  In 
fact  he  was  beginning  to  feel  uneasy. 

"  It  is  very  strange,"  said  the  other.  "  I  have 
a  sister  living  in  Hayfield  Center  and  frequently 
visit  the  place  myself,  and  so  of  course  know 
something  of  it.  Yet  I  have  never  heard  of  any 
clergyman  named  Barnes  preaching  in  that 
town." 

Mr.  Montgomery  saw  that  things  looked 
critical. 

"  You  are  strangely  mistaken,  sir,"  he  said. 
"  However,  I  will  not  press  the  sale.  If  you  will 
return  the  ring,"  to  the  clerk,  "  I  will  dispose  of  it 
elsewhere." 

But  the  clerk's  suspicions  had  been  aroused  by 
what  had  been  said. 

"  I  will  speak  to  Mr.  Ball,"  he  said. 

"  There  is  no  occasion  to  speak  to  him.  I  shall 
not  sell  the  ring  to-day.  To-morrow,  I  will  come 
with  witnesses  whose  testimony  will  outweigh  that 
of  this  gentleman,  who  I  suspect  never  was  in 
Hayfield  Center  in  his  life.  I  will  trouble  you 
for  the  ring." 

"  I  hope  you  don't  intend  to  give  it  to  him," 
said  the  gentleman.  "  The  presumption  is  that, 


200  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

as  he  is  masquerading,  he  has  not  come  by  it 
honestly." 

"  I  shall  not  deign  to  notice  your  insinuations," 
said  Mr.  Montgomery,  who  concealed  beneath  a 
consequential  tone  his  real  uneasiness.  "  The 
ring,  if  you  please." 

"  Don't  give  it  to  him." 

As  the  clerk  seemed  disinclined  to  surrender  the 
ring,  Mr.  Montgomery  said : 

"  Young  man,  you  will  find  it  to  be  a  serious 
matter  to  withhold  my  property." 

"  Perhaps  I  had  better  give  it  to  him,"  said  the 
clerk,  imposed  upon  by  the  adventurer's  manner. 

"  Require  him  to  prove  property.  If  it  is 
really  his,  he  can  readily  do  this." 

"  My  dear,"  said  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes,  "  we 
will  leave  the  store." 

"  What,  and  leave  the  ring  ?  " 

"  For  the  present.  I  will  invoke  the  aid  of  the 
police  to  save  me  from  being  robbed  in  this  ex- 
traordinary manner." 

He  walked  to  the  street  door,  accompanied  by 
his  wife.  He  was  deeply  disappointed  at  the 
failure  of  the  sale,  and  would  gladly  have  wreaked 
vengeance  upon  the  stranger  who  had  prevented 
it.  But  he  saw  that  his  safety  required  an  imme- 
diate retreat.  In  addition  to  his  own  disappoint- 
ment, he  had  to  bear  his  wife's  censure. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  201 

"  If  you  had  the  spirit  of  a  man,  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery," she  commenced,  "you  wouldn't  have 
given  up  that  ring  so  easily.  He  had  no  business 
to  keep  it." 

"  I  would  have  called  in  a  policeman,  if  I  dared, 
but  you  know  I  am  not  on  the  best  of  terms  with 
these  gentlemen." 

"  Are  we  to  lose  the  ring,  then  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  so,  unless  I  can  make  them  believe 
in  the  store  that  I  am  really  what  I  pretend 
to  be." 

"Can't  you  do  it?" 

"  Not  very  easily,  unless — stay,  I  have  an  idea. 
Do  you  see  that  young  man  ?  " 

He  directed  his  wife's  attention  to  a  young 
man,  evidently  fresh  from  the  country,  who  was 
approaching,  staring  open-eyed  at  the  unwonted 
sights  of  the  city.  He  was  dressed  in  a  blue  coat 
with  brass  buttons,  while  his  pantaloons,  of  a 
check  pattern,  terminated  rather  higher  up  than 
was  in  accordance  with  the  fashion. 

"Yes,  I  see  him,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery. 
"What  of  him?" 

"  I  am  going  to  recover  the  ring  through  his 
help." 

"  I  don't  see  how." 

"  You  will  see." 

"  How  do  you  do  ?  "  said  the  adventurer  cor- 


202  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

dially,  advancing  to  the  young  man,  and  seizing 
his  hand. 

"  Pretty  smart,"  said  the  countryman,  looking 
surprised. 

"  Are  your  parents  quite  well  ?  " 

"  They's  so's  to  be  around." 

"  When  did  you  come  to  the  city?  " 

"  This  mornin'." 

"Do  you  stay  any  length  of  time?" 

"  I'm  goin'  back  this  afternoon." 

"  You  didn't  expect  to  meet  me  now,  did  you  ?  " 
asked  Mr.  Montgomery. 

"  I  s'pose  I'd  orter  know  you,"  said  the  per- 
plexed youth,  "  but  I  can't  think  what  your  name 
is." 

"  What !  Not  know  Mr.  Barnes,  the  minister 
of  Hayfield  Center?  Don't  you  remember  hear- 
ing me  preach  for  your  minister?  " 

"  Seems  to  me  I  do,"  answered  the  young  man, 
persuading  himself  that  he  ought  to  remember. 

"  Of  course  you  do.  Now,  my  young  friend, 
I  am  very  glad  to  have  met  you." 

"  So  am  I,"  said  the  other  awkwardly. 

**  You  can  do  me  a  favor,  if  you  will." 

"Of  course,  I  will,"  said  Jonathan,  "if  it's 
anything  I  can  do." 

"  Yes,  you  will  have  no  trouble  about  it.  You 
see,  I  went  into  a  jeweler's  near  by  to  sell  a  val- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  205 

liable  ring,  and  they  wanted  to  make  sure  I  was 
really  a  minister,  and  not  intending  to  cheat 
them.  If  you  will  go  in  with  me  and  say  that 
you  have  often  heard  me  preach,  and  that  I  am  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Barnes  of  Hayfield  Center,  I  won't 
mind  paying  you  five  dollars  for  your  trouble." 
"  All  right;  I'll  do  it,"  said  the  rustic,  consider- 
ing that  it  would  be  an  unusually  easy  way  of 
earning  five  dollars. 

"  You'll  remember  the  name,  won't  you  ?  " 
"  Yes — Parson  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Center." 
"  That  is  right.     The  store  is  near  by.     Walk 
along  with  us,  and  we  will  be  there  in  five  min- 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

A    NEW    EXPEDIENT 

"I  believe  your  name  is  Peck?"  said  Mr. 
Montgomery,  hazarding  a  guess. 

"  No,  it's  Young,  Ephraim  Young." 

"  Of  course  it  is.  I  remember  now,  but  I  am 
apt  to  forget  names.  You  said  your  parents  were 
quite  well  ?  " 

"  Yes,  they're  pretty  smart." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it;  I  have  the  pleasantest 
recollections  of  your  excellent  father.  Let  me 
see,  didn't  you  call  there  with  me  once,  Mrs. 
Barnes?" 

"  Not  that  I  remember." 

"  You  must  go  with  me  the  next  time.  I  want 
you  to  know  the  parents  of  our  young  friend. 
They  are  excellent  people.  Do  you  go  back  this 
afternoon,  Mr.  Young  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  guess  so.  You  don't  know  of  any 
sitooation  I  could  get  in  a  store  around  here,  do 
you?" 

"  Not  at  present,  but  I  have  some  influential 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  205 

friends  to  whom  I  will  mention  your  name.  Sup- 
pose, now,  I  could  obtain  a  situation  for  you,  how 
shall  I  direct  the  letter  letting  you  know  when 
to  come  ?  " 

"  Just  put  on  the  letter  '  Ephraim  Young/ 
Everybody  in  Plainfield  knows  me." 

"  So  he  lives  in  Plainfield,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery to  himself.  "  It's  as  well  to  know  that." 
Then  aloud,  "  I  won't  forget,  Mr.  Young.  What 
sort  of  business  would  you  prefer?  " 

"  Any  kind  that'll  pay,"  said  the  gratified  youth, 
firmly  convinced  of  his  companion's  ability  to  ful- 
fill his  promise.  "  I've  got  tired  of  stayin'  round 
home,  and  I'd  like  to  try  York  a  little  while. 
Folks  tell  me  it's  very  easy  to  make  money 
here." 

"  You  are  right.  If  I  were  a  business  man,  I 
would  come  to  New  York  at  once.  For  a  smart 
young  man  like  you,  it  offers  a  much  better  open- 
ing than  a  country  village,  as  the  field  is  so  much 
larger." 

"That's  what  I've  told  dad  often,"  said  the 
rustic,  "  but  he's  afraid  I  wouldn't  get  nothing  to 
do,  and  he  says  it's  dreadful  expensive  livin' 
here." 

"  So  it  is  expensive,  but  then  you  will  be  better 
paid  than  in  the  country.  However,  here  we  are. 
You  won't  forget  what  I  told  you  ?  " 


206  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  No — I'll  be  sure  to  remember,"  said  the 
young  man. 

The  reappearance  of  Mr.  Barnes  and  wife 
so  soon  excited  some  surprise  in  the  store,  for  it 
had  got  around,  as  such  things  will,  that  he  was 
an  impostor,  and  it  was  supposed  that  he  would 
not  venture  to  show  his  face  there  again.  The 
appearance  of  his  rustic  companion  likewise  at- 
tracted attention.  Certainly,  Mr.  Montgomery 
(it  makes  little  difference  what  we  call  him)  did 
not  exhibit  the  slightest  appearance  of  apprehen- 
sion, but  his  manner  was  quite  cool  and  self- 
possessed.  He  made  his  way  to  that  part  of  the 
counter  attended  by  the  clerk  with  whom  he  had 
before  spoken.  He  observed  with  pleasure  and 
relief  that  the  man  who  had  questioned  his  iden- 
tity with  any  of  the  ministers  of  Hayfield  Cen- 
ter was  no  longer  in  the  store.  This  would 
make  the  recovery  of  the  ring  considerably 
easier. 

"  Well,  sir,"  he  said,  addressing  the  clerk,  "  I 
suppose  you  did  not  expect  to  see  me  again  so 
soon  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Nor  did  I  expect  to  be  able  to  return  for  the 
ring  before  to-morrow,  not  supposing  that  I  could 
bring  witnesses  to  prove  that  I  was  what  I  repre- 
sented. But  fortunately  I  met  just  now  a  young 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  207 

friend,  who  can  testify  to  my  identity,  as  he  has 
heard  me  preach  frequently  in  Plainfield,  where 
he  resides.  Mr.  Young,  will  you  be  kind  enough 
to  tell  this  gentleman  who  I  am  ?  " 

"  Parson  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Center,"  said  the 
youth  confidently. 

"  You  have  heard  me  preach,  have  you  not,  in 
Plainfield?" 

"  Yes,"  said  the  young  man,  fully  believeing 
that  he  was  telling  the  truth. 

"  And  I  have  called  on  your  parents?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  think,"  said  the  adventurer,  "  that  will  be 
sufficient  to  convince  you  that  I  am  what  I  ap- 
pear." 

It  was  hard  to  doubt,  in  the  face  of  such  evi- 
dence. Ephraim  Young  was  so  unmistakably 
from  the  rural  districts  that  it  would  have  been 
absurd  to  suspect  him  of  being  an  artful  city 
rogue.  Besides,  Mr.  Barnes  himself  was  got  up 
so  naturally  that  all  the  clerk's  doubts  vanished  at 
once.  He  concluded  that  the  customer  who  had 
questioned  his  genuineness  must  be  very  much 
mistaken. 

"  I  ought  to  apologize  to  you,  sir,"  he  said, 
"for  doubting  your  word.  But  in  a  city  like 
this  you  know  that  one  has  to  be  very  care- 
ful." 


208  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Of  course,"  said  the  adventurer  blandly,  "  I 
do  not  blame  you  in  the  least.  You  only  did  your 
duty,  though  it  might  have  cost  me  some  trouble 
and  inconvenience." 

"  I  am  sorry,  sir." 

"  No  apologies,  I  beg.  It  has  all  turned  out 
right,  and  your  mistake  was  a  natural  one.  If 
you  will  kindly  return  me  the  ring,  I  will  defer 
selling  it,  I  think,  till  another  day." 

The  clerk  brought  the  ring,  which  he  handed 
back  to  Mr.  Montgomery.  The  latter  received  it 
with  so  much  the  more  satisfaction,  as  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  at  one  time  that  it  was  gone 
irrevocably,  and  put  it  away  in  his  waistcoat 
pocket. 

"  I  had  intended  to  buy  some  silver  spoons,"  he 
said,  "  but  it  will  be  necessary  to  wait  until  I  have 
disposed  of  the  ring.  However,  I  may  as  well 
look  at  some,  eh,  Mrs.  Barnes  ?  " 

"  If  you  like,"  assented  the  lady. 

So  the  pair  examined  some  spoons,  and  fixed 
upon  a  dozen,  which  they  said  they  would  return 
and  buy  on  the  next  day,  and  then,  with  a  polite 
good-by,  went  out  of  the  store,  leaving  behind 
them,  on  the  whole,  quite  a  favorable  impres- 
sion. 

Ephraim  Young  accompanied  them  out,  and 
walked  along  beside  them  in  the  street.  He,  too, 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  209 

was  in  good  spirits,  for  had  not  his  companion 
promised  him  five  dollars  for  his  services,  which 
he  had  faithfully  rendered?  Five  dollars  to  the 
young  man  from  the  rural  districts  was  a  very 
considerable  sum  of  money — quite  a  nugget,  in 
fact — and  he  already  enjoyed  in  advance  the 
pleasure  which  he  anticipated  of  telling  his  friends 
at  home  how  easily  he  had  earned  such  a  sum  in 
"  York." 

He  walked  slowly  along  beside  the  adven- 
turer, expecting  that  he  would  say  something 
about  paying  him,  but  no  allusion  was  made  by 
the  adventurer  to  his  promise.  Indeed,  five  dol- 
lars was  considerably  more  than  he  had  in  his 
possession.  When  they  reached  Amity  Street, 
for  they  were  now  proceeding  up  Broadway,  he 
sought  to  shake  off  the  young  man,  whose  com- 
pany he  no  longer  desired. 

"  This  is  our  way,"  he  said.  "  I  suppose  you 
are  going  further.  I  am  very  glad  to  have  met 
you,  Mr.  Young.  I  hope  you  will  give  our  re- 
gards to  your  excellent  parents ;  "  and  he  held  out 
his  hand  in  token  of  farewell. 

"  Ain't  you  goin'  to  pay  me  that  money?  "  said 
Ephraim  bluntly,  becoming  alarmed  at  the  pros- 
pest  of  losing  the  nugget  he  had  counted  on  with 
so  much  confidence. 

"  Bless  me,  I  came  near  forgetting  it!     I  hope 


210  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

you  will  excuse  me,"  and  to  Ephraim's  delight  he 
drew  out  his  pocketbook.  But  the  prospect  of 
payment  was  not  so  bright  as  the  young  man  sup- 
posed. 

"  I  don't  think  I  have  a  five-dollar  bill,"  said 
Mr.  Montgomery,  after  an  examination  of  the 
pocketbook.  "  Mrs.  Montgomery,  do  you  hap- 
pen to  have  a  five  with  you?  " 

"  No,  I  haven't,"  said  the  lady  promptly. 
"  I  spent  all  my  money  shopping  this  morn- 
ing." 

"  That  is  unfortunate.  Our  young  friend  has 
rendered  us  such  a  service  I  don't  like  to  make 
him  wait  for  his  money." 

Ephraim  Young  looked  rather  blank  at  this 
suggestion. 

"  Let  me  see,  I  have  a  hundred-dollar  bill  here," 
said  Mr.  Montgomery.  "  I  will  go  into  the  next 
store,  and  see  if  I  can't  get  it  changed.  Mr. 
Young,  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  remain  with 
my  wife?" 

"  Certain,"  said  Ephraim,  brightening  up  con- 
siderably. 

Mr.  Montgomery  went  into  a  shop  near  by, 
but  made  no  request  to  have  a  hundred-dollar  bill 
changed.  He  was  rather  afraid  that  they  might 
comply  with  his  request,  which  would  have  sub- 
jected him  to  some  embarrassment.  He  merely 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  211 

inquired  if  he  could  use  a  pen  for  a  moment;  a 
request  which  was  readily  granted.  In  less  than 
five  minutes  he  emerged  into  the  street 
again.  Ephraim  Young  looked  toward  him 
eagerly. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  my  young  friend,"  he  re- 
marked, "  that  I  was  unable  to  get  my  bill 
changed.  I  might  get  it  changed  at  a  bank,  but 
the  banks  are  all  closed  at  this  hour." 

The  countryman  looked  disturbed. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  continued  Mr.  Montgomery, 
"  I  must  wait  and  send  you  the  money  in  a  letter 
from  Hayfield  Center." 

"  I'd  rather  have  it  now,"  said  Ephraim. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disappoint  you,"  said  the  ad- 
venturer smoothly;  "  but  after  all  you  will  only 
have  a  day  or  two  to  wait.  To  make  up  to  you 
for  the  delay  I  have  decided  to  send  you  ten  dol- 
lars instead  of  five.  Finding  I  could  not  change 
my  bill,  I  wrote  a  note  for  the  amount  which  I 
will  hand  you." 

Ephraim  received  the  paper,  which  the  other 
handed  him,  and  read  as  follows : 

NEW  YORK,  September  15,  18 — . 
Three  days  from  date  I  promise  to  pay  Mr. 
Ephraim  Young  ten  tollars. 

JOTHAN  BARNES,  of  Hayfield  Center* 


212  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  How  will  that  do  ?  "  asked  the  adventurer. 
"  By  waiting  three  days  you  double  your 
money." 

"  You'll  be  sure  to  send  it,"  said  Ephraim 
doubtfully. 

"  My  young  friend,  I  hope  that  you  do  not 
doubt  me,"  said  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes  impres- 
sively. 

"  I  guess  it's  all  right,"  said  Ephraim,  "  only 
I  thought  I  might  like  to  spend  the  money  in  the 
city." 

"  Much  better  save  it  up,"  said  the  other.  "  By 
and  by  it  may  come  in  use." 

Ephraim  carefully  folded  up  the  note,  and  de- 
posited it  in  an  immense  wallet,  the  gift  of  his 
father.  He  would  have  preferred  the  money 
which  it  represented;  but  three  days  would  soon 
pass,  and  the  te  dollars  would  be  sent  to  him. 

He  took  leave  of  his  new  acquaintances, 
Mr.  Montgomery  shaking  his  hand  with  affection- 
ate warmth,  and  requesting  him  to  give  his  best 
respects  to  his  parents.  When  Ephraim  was  out 
of  sight,  he  returned  to  his  wife,  with  a  humorous 
twinkle  in  his  eye,  and  said: 

"  Wasn't  that  cleverly  done,  old  lady?  " 

"  Good  enough !  "  remarked  the  lady.  "  Now 
you've  got  the  ring  back  again,  what  are  you  go- 
ing to  do  with  it  ?  " 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  213 

"That,  my  dear,  is  a  subject  which  requires 
the  maturest  consideration.  I  shall  endeavor  to 
convert  it  as  soon  as  possible  into  the  largest  pos- 
sible sum  in  greenbacks.  Otherwise  I  am  afraid 
our  board  bill,  and  the  note  I  have  just  given  to 
my  rural  friend,  will  remain  unpaid." 


CHAPTER  XXIV 
MR.  MONTGOMERY'S  ARREST 

Having  shaken  off  his  country  acquaintance,  of 
•whom  he  had  no  further  need,  Mr.  Montgomery 
started  to  return  to  his  lodgings.  On  the  whole, 
he  was  in  good  spirits,  though  he  had  not  effected 
the  sale  of  the  ring.  But  it  was  still  in  his  posses- 
sion, and  it  had  a  tangible  value. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  did  not  sell  the  ring,"  said 
Mrs.  Montgomery. 

"  So  am  I,"  said  her  husband.  "  We  may 
have  to  sell  it  in  some  other  city." 

"  We  can't  leave  the  city  without  money." 

"  That's  true,"  returned  her  husband,  rather 
taken  aback  by  what  was  undeniably  true. 

"  We  must  sell  the  ring,  or  raise  money  on  it, 
in  New  York." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right.  The  trouble 
is,  there  are  not  many  places  where  they  will  buy 
so  expensive  an  article.  Besides,  they  will  be  apt 
to  ask  impertinent  questions." 

"  You  might  go  to  a  pawnbroker's." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  215 

"  And  get  fleeced.  If  I  got  a  quarter  of  the 
value  from  a  pawnbroker,  I  should  be  lucky." 

"  We  must  do  something  with  it,"  said  Mrs. 
Montgomery  decidedly. 

"  Right,  my  dear.  We  must  get  the  sinews  of 
war  somewhere.  Richard  will  never  be  himself 
again  till  his  pocketbook  is  lined  with  greenbacks. 
At  present,  '  who  steals  my  purse  steals  trash.' " 

"  Suppose  you  try  Tiffany's?  " 

"  The  ring  has  already  been  offered  there. 
They  might  remember  it." 

"  If  they  do,  say  that  he  is  your  son." 

"A  good  thought,"  answered  the  husband. 
"  I  will  act  upon  it  But,  on  the  whole,  I'll  doff 
this  disguise,  and  assume  my  ordinary  garments. 
This  time,  my  dear,  I  shall  not  need  your  assist- 
ance." 

"  Well,  the  sooner  it's  done  the  better.  That's 
all  I  have  to  say." 

"  As  soon  as  possible." 

Mr.  Montgomery  returned  to  his  lodgings  in 
Amity  Street,  and,  taking  off  his  clerical  garb, 
appeared  in  the  garb  in  which  we  first  made  his 
acquaintance.  The  change  was  very  speedily 
effected. 

"  Wish  me  good  luck,  Mrs.  M.,"  he  said,  as  he 
opened  the  door.  "  I  am  going  to  make  another 
attempt." 


216  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Good  luck  to  you,  Tony!     Come  back  soon." 

"As  soon  as  my  business  is  completed.  If  I 
get  the  money,  we  will  leave  for  Philadelphia  this 
evening.  You  may  as  well  be  packing  up." 

"  I  am  afraid  the  landlady  won't  let  us  carry 
away  our  baggage  unless  we  pay  our  bill." 

"  Never  mind !  Pack  it  up,  and  we'll  run  our 
chance." 

Felix  Montgomery  left  the  house  with  the  ring 
carefully  deposited  in  his  vest  pocket.  To  judge 
from  his  air  of  easy  indifference,  he  might  readily 
have  been  taken  for  a  substantial  citizen  in  excel- 
lent circumstances;  but  then  appearances  are 
oftentimes  deceitful,  and  they  were  especially  so 
in  the  present  instance. 

He  made  his  way  quickly  to  Broadway,  and 
thence  to  Tiffany's,  at  that  time  not  so  far  up- 
town as  at  present.  He  entered  the  store  with  a 
nonchalant  air,  and,  advancing  to  the  counter, 
accosted  the  same  clerk  to  whom  Paul  had  shown 
the  ring  earlier  in  the  day. 

"  I  have  a  valuable  ring  which  I  would  like 
to  sell,"  he  said.  "Will  you  tell  me  its 
value?" 

The  clerk  no  sooner  took  it  in  his  hand  than  he 
recognized  it. 

"  I  have  seen  that  ring  before,"  he  said,  looking 
at  Mr.  Montgomery  keenly. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  217 

"Yes,"  said  the  latter  composedly;  "this 
morning,  wasn't  it?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  My  boy  brought  it  in  here.  I  ought  not  to 
have  sent  him,  for  he  came  very  near  losing  it  on 
the  way  home.  I  thought  it  best  to  come  with 
it  myself." 

This  was  said  so  quietly  that  it  was  hard  to 
doubt  the  statement,  or  would  have  been  if  in- 
formation had  not  been  brought  to  the  store  that 
the  ring  had  been  stolen. 

"  Yes,  boys  are  careless,"  assented  the  clerk, 
not  caring  to  arouse  Mr.  Montgomery's  sus- 
picions. "  You  wish  to  sell  the  ring,  I  sup- 
pose." 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  other;  "  I  don't  like  to 
carry  a  ring  of  so  great  value.  Several  times  I 
have  come  near  having  it  stolen.  Will  you  buy 
it?" 

"  I  am  not  authorized  to  make  the  purchase," 
said  the  clerk.  "  I  will  refer  the  matter  to  Mr. 
Tiffany." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery.  "  I  am 
willing  to  accept  whatever  he  may  pronounce  a 
fair  price." 

"  No  doubt,"  thought  the  clerk. 

He  carried  the  ring  to  his  employer,  and 
quickly  explained  the  circumstances. 


2i8  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  The  man  is  doubtless  a  thief.  Ke  must  be 
arrested,"  said  the  jeweler. 

"  If  I  go  for  an  officer,  he  will  take  alarm." 

"  Invite  him  to  come  into  the  back  part  of  the 
shop,  and  I  will  protract  the  negotiation  while  you 
summon  a  policeman." 

The  clerk  returned,  and  at  his  invitation  Mr. 
Montgomery  walked  to  the  lower  end  of  the  store, 
where  he  was  introduced  to  the  head  of  the  estab- 
lishment. Sharp  though  he  was,  he  suspected  no 
plot. 

"  You  are  the  owner  of  this  ring?  "  asked  Mr. 
Tiffany. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  adventurer.  "  It  has  been 
in  our  family  for  a  long  time." 

"  But  you  wish  to  sell  it  now  ?  " 

"  Yes;  I  have  come  near  losing  it  several  times, 
and  prefer  to  dispose  of  it.  What  is  its  value  ?  " 

"  That  requires  some  consideration.  I  will  ex- 
amine it  closely." 

Mr.  Montgomery  stood  with  his  back  to  the 
entrance,  waiting  patiently,  while  the  jeweler  ap- 
peared to  be  engaged  in  a  close  examination  of 
the  ring.  He  congratulated  himself  that  no  ques- 
tions had  been  asked  which  it  might  have  been 
difficult  for  him  to  answer.  He  made  up  his  mind 
that  after  due  examination  Mr.  Tiffany  would 
make  an  offer,  which  he  determined  in  advance 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  219 

to  accept,  whatever  it  might  be,  since  he  would 
consider  himself  fortunate  to  dispose  of  it  at  even 
two-thirds  of  its  value. 

Meanwhile  the  clerk  quietly  slipped  out  of  the 
store,  and  at  a  short  distance  encountered  a  police- 
man, upon  whom  he  called  for  assistance.  At 
the  same  moment  Paul  and  Mr.  Preston  came  up. 
Our  hero,  on  being  released  from  arrest,  had 
sought  Mr.  Preston,  and  the  latter  obligingly 
agreed  to  go  with  him  to  Tiffany's,  and  certify 
to  his  honesty,  that,  if  the  ring  should  be  brought 
there,  it  might  be  retained  for  him.  Paul  did  not 
recognize  the  clerk,  but  the  latter  at  once  remem- 
bered him. 

"  Are  you  not  the  boy  that  brought  a  diamond 
ring  into  our  store  this  morning?  "  he  asked. 

"Into  Tiffany's?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Have  you  seen  anything  of  it  ?  "  asked  our 
hero  eagerly.  "  I  am  the  one  who  brought  it  in." 

"  A  man  just  brought  it  into  the  store,"  said 
the  clerk. 

"  Is  he  there  now  ?  " 

"  He  is  talking  with  Mr.  Tiffany.  I  came  out 
for  a  policeman.  He  will  be  arrested  at  once." 

"  Good!  "  ejaculated  Paul;  "  I  am  in  luck.  I 
thought  I  should  never  see  the  ring  again.  What 
Sort  of  a  man  is  it?." 


220  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

From  the  description,  Paul  judged  that  it  was 
Felix  Montgomery  himself,  and,  remembering 
what  a  trick  the  adventurer  had  played  upon  him 
at  Lovejoy's  Hotel,  he  felt  no  little  satisfaction  in 
the  thought  that  the  trapper  was  himself  trapped 
at  last. 

"  I'll  go  along  with  you,"  he  said.  "  I  want  to 
see  that  man  arrested." 

"  You  had  better  stay  outside  just  at  first,  until 
we  have  secured  him." 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Tiffany,  after  a  prolonged  ex- 
amination, said :  "  The  ring  is  worth  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars." 

"That  will  be  satisfactory,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery promptly. 

"  Shall  I  give  you  a  check  for  the  amount?  " 
asked  the  jeweler. 

"  I  should  prefer  the  money,  as  I  am  a  stranger 
in  the  city,  and  not  known  at  the  banks." 

"  I  can  make  the  check  payable  to  bearer,  and 
then  you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  getting  it 
cashed." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  the  clerk 
entered  the  store  with  the  policeman,  but  Mr. 
Montgomery's  back  was  turned,  and  he  was  not 
aware  of  the  fact  till  the  officer  tapped  him  on  the 
shoulder,  saying :  "You  are  my  prisoner." 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?     There  is  some  mis- 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  221 

take,"  said  the  adventurer,  wheeling  round  with 
a  start. 

"  No  mistake  at  all.     You  must  come  with  me." 

"  What  have  I  done  ?  You  take  me  for  some- 
one else." 

"  You  have  stolen  a  diamond  ring." 

"  Who  says  so  ?  "  demanded  the  adventurer 
boldly.  "  It  is  true  I  brought  one  here  to  sell, 
but  it  has  belonged  to  me  for  years." 

*  You  are  mistaken,  Mr.  Montgomery,"  said 
Paul,  who  had  come  up  unperceived.  "  You 
stole  that  ring  from  me  this  morning,  after  dosing 
me  with  chloroform  at  Lovejoy's  Hotel." 

"It  is  a  lie,"  said  the  adventurer  boldly. 
"  That  boy  is  my  son.  He  is  in  league  with  his 
mother  to  rob  me.  She  sent  him  here  this  morn- 
ing, unknown  to  me.  Finding  it  out,  I  took  the 
ring  from  him,  and  brought  it  here  myself." 

Paul  was  certainly  surprised  at  being  claimed 
as  a  son  by  the  man  who  had  swindled  him,  and 
answered :  "  I  never  saw  you  before  this  morn- 
ing. I  have  no  father  living." 

"  I  will  guarantee  this  boy's  truth  and  honesty," 
said  Mr.  Preston,  speaking  for  the  first  time.  "  I 
believe  you  know  me,  Mr.  Tiffany." 

"  I  need  no  other  assurance,"  said  the  jeweler, 
bowing.  "  Officer,  you  may  remove  your  pris- 
oner." 


222  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  The  game  is  up,"  said  the  adventurer,  finding" 
no  further  chance  for  deception.  "  I  played  for 
high  stakes,  and  I  have  lost  the  game.  I  have 
one  favor  to  ask.  Will  someone  let  my  wife 
know  where  I  am  ?  " 

"  Give  me  her  address,"  said  Paul,  "  and  I  will 
let  her  know." 

"  No. Amity  Street.  Ask  her  to  come  to 

the  station-house  to  see  me." 

"  I  will  go  at  once." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery;  "  as  I 
am  not  to  have  the  ring,  I  don't  know  that  I  am 
sorry  it  has  fallen  into  your  hands.  One  piece  of 
advice  I  will  venture  to  offer  you,  my  lad,"  he 
added,  smiling.  "  Beware  of  any  jewelers  hail- 
ing from  Syracuse.  They  will  cheat  you,  if  you 
give  them  a  chance." 

"  I  will  be  on  my  guard,"  said  Paul.  "  Can  I 
do  anything  more  for  you  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  thank  you.  I  have  a  fast  friend  at 
my  side,  who  will  look  after  me." 

The  officer  smiled  grimly  at  the  jest,  and  the 
two  left  the  store  arm  in  arm. 

"Do  you  still  wish  to  sell  this  ring?"  asked 
Mr.  Tiffany,  addressing  Paul. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  renew  my  offer  of  this  morning.  I  will  give 
you  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  223 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  accept  it." 

The  sale  was  quickly  effected,  and  Paul  left  the 
store  with  what  seemed  to  him  a  fortune  in  his 
pocket. 

"  Be  careful  not  to  lose  your  money,"  said  Mr. 
Preston. 

•  "  I  should  like  to  place  a  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars in  your  hands,"  said  Paul,  turning  to  Mr. 
Preston. 

"  I  will  willingly  take  care  of  it  for  you,  and 
allow  you  interest  upon  it." 

The  transfer  was  made,  and,  carefully  deposit- 
ing the  balance  of  the  money  in  his  pocketbook, 
our  hero  took  leave  of  his  friend  and  sought  the 
house  in  Amity  Street. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

PAUL'S  FINAL  SUCCESSS 

Mrs.  Montgomery  impatiently  awaited  the  re- 
turn of  her  husband.  Meanwhile  she  commenced 
packing  the  single  trunk  which  answered  both  for 
her  husband  and  herself.  She  was  getting  tired 
of  New  York,  and  anxious  to  leave  for  Phila- 
delphia, being  fearful  lest  certain  little  transac- 
tions in  which  she  and  her  husband  had  taken 
part  should  become  known  to  the  police. 

She  had  nearly  completed  her  packing  when 
Paul  rang  the  doorbell.  The  summons  was  an- 
swered by  the  landlady  in  person. 

"  Is  Mrs.  Montgomery  at  home  ? "  asked 
Paul. 

"  No  such  lady  lives  here,"  was  the  'answer. 

It  occurred  to  Paul  as  very  possible  that  Mr. 
Montgomery  might  pass  under  a  variety  of  names. 
He  accordingly  said :  "  Perhaps  I  have  got  the 
name  wrong.  The  lady  I  mean  is  tall.  I  come 
with  a  message  from  her  husband,  who  is  a  stout 
man  with  black  hair  and  whiskers.  He  gave  me 
this  number." 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  225 

"  Perhaps  you  mean  Mr.  Grimsby.  He  and  his 
wife  live  here." 

"  Probably  that  is  the  name,"  said  Paul. 

"  I  will  give  Mrs.  Grimsby  your  message,"  re- 
turned the  landlady,  whose  curiosity  was  excited 
to  learn  something  further  concerning  her  strange 
boarders. 

"Thank  you,"  said  Paul;  "but  it  is  necessary 
for  me  to  see  the  lady  herself." 

"  Well,  you  can  follow  me,  then,"  said  the  land- 
lady rather  ungraciously. 

She  led  the  way  upstairs,  and  knocked  at  the 
door  of  Mrs.  Grimsby,  or,  as  we  will  still  call  her, 
Mrs.  Montgomery,  since  that  name  is  more  fa- 
miliar to  the  reader,  and  she  was  as  much  entitled 
to  the  one  as  the  other. 

Mrs.  Montgomery  opened  the  door,  and  re- 
garded our  hero  suspiciously,  for  her  mode  of 
life  had  taught  her  suspicion  of  strangers. 

"  Here's  a  boy  that  wants  to  see  you,"  said 
the  landlady. 

"  I  come  with  a  message  from  your  husband," 
said  Paul. 

Mrs.  Montgomery  remembered  Paul  as  the  boy 
who  was  the  real  owner  of  the  diamond  ring,  and 
she  eyed  him  with  increased  suspicion. 

"  Did  my  husband  send  you  ?  When  did  you 
see  him  ?  " 


226  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  Just  now,  at  Tiffany's,"  answered  Paul  sig- 
nificantly. 

"  What  is  his  message  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery, beginning  to  feel  uneasy. 

Paul  glanced  at  the  landlady,  who,  in  the  hope 
of  gratifying  her  curiosity,  maintained  her  stand 
by  his  side. 

"  The  message  is  private,"  he  said. 

"  I  suppose  that  means  that  I  am  in  the  way," 
remarked  the  landlady  sharply.  "  I  don't  want  to 
pry  into  anybody's  secrets.  Thank  heaven,  I 
haven't  got  any  secrets  of  my  own." 

"  Walk  in,  young  man,"  said  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery. 

Paul  entered  the  room,  and  she  closed  the  door 
behind  him.  Meanwhile  the  landlady,  who  had 
gone  part  way  downstairs,  retraced  her  steps 
softly,  and  put  her  ear  to  the  keyhole.  Her  curi- 
osity, naturally  strong,  had  been  stimulated  by 
Paul's  intimation  that  there  was  a  secret. 

"  Now,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery  impatiently, 
"  out  with  it !  Why  does  my  husband  send  a  mes- 
sage by  you,  instead  of  coming  home  him- 
self?" 

"  He  can't  come  himself." 

"Why  can't  he?" 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  am  the  bearer  of  bad 
news,"  said  Paul  gravely.  "  Your  husband  has 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  227 

been  arrested  for  robbing  me  of  a  diamond 
ring." 

"  Where  is  he?  "  demanded  Mrs.  Montgomery, 
not  so  much  excited  or  overcome  as  she  would 
have  been  had  this  been  the  first  time  her  husband 
had  fallen  into  the  clutches  of  the  law. 

"  At  the Street  station-house.  He  wants 

you  to  come  and  see  him." 

"  Have  you  got  the  ring  back  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

Mrs.  Montgomery  was  sorry  to  hear  it.  She 
hoped  her  husband  might  be  able  to  secrete  it,  in 
which  case  he  would  pass  it  over  to  her  to  dispose 
of.  Now  she  was  rather  awkwardly  situated,  be- 
ing without  money,  or  the  means  of  making 
any. 

"  I  will  go,"  she  said. 

Paul,  who  was  sitting  next  to  the  door,  opened 
it  suddenly,  with  unexpected  effort,  for  the  land- 
lady, whose  ear  was  fast  to  the  keyhole,  staggered 
into  the  room  involuntarily. 

"  So  you  were  listening,  ma'am,  were  you  ?  " 
demanded  Mrs.  Montgomery  scornfully  of  the 
landlady. 

"  Yes,  I  was,"  said  the  landlady,  rather  red  in 
the  face. 

"  You  were  in  good  business." 

"  It's  a  better  business  than  stealing  diamond 


228  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

rings,"  retorted  the  landlady,  recovering  herself,, 
"  I've  long  suspected  there  was  something  wrong 
about  you  and  your  husband,  ma'am,  and  now  I 
know  it.  I  don't  want  no  thieves  nor  jail  birds 
in  my  house,  and  the  sooner  you  pay  your  bill  and 
leave,  the  better  I'll  like  it." 

"  I'll  leave  as  soon  as  you  like,  but  I  can't  pay 
your  bill." 

"  I  dare  say,"  retorted  the  landlady.  "  You're 
a  nice  character  to  cheat  an  honest  woman  out  of 
four  weeks'  board." 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery 
coolly;  "if  I  haven't  got  the  money,  I  can't  pay 
you.  I'll  move  to-morrow." 

"You'll  move  to-night,"  said  the  landlady 
angrily,  "  and  you  won't  take  your  trunk  either. 
I  ain't  going  to  lose  fifty  dollars  for  noth- 
ing." 

"  I  don't  think  my  clothes  will  fit  you,"  said 
her  boarder. 

"  Perhaps  they  won't,"  said  the  landlady,  who 
was  short  and  dumpy,  while  Mrs.  Montgomery 
was  tall  and  spare;  "  but  you  won't  get  them 
again,  at  any  rate,  unless  you  pay  me  the 
money." 

"  I  suppose  I  needn't  stay  any  longer,"  said 
Paul,  who  had  listened  in  silence  to  the  dialogue 
between  the  two  women. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  229 

"  No.  Tell  my  husband,  if  you  see  him,  I  will 
come  to  him." 

"  It's  my  belief  you're  as  bad  as  he  is,"  said  the 
landlady. 

This  was  the  last  of  the  conference  which  Paul 
heard.  It  may  interest  the  reader  to  learn  that 
Mrs.  Montgomery  got  her  trunk,  after  all.  The 
next  day  the  landlady  received  a  telegram,  pur- 
porting to  come  from  her  sister  in  Brooklyn,  sum- 
moning her  to  her  sick  bed.  She  answered  the 
summons  in  great  haste,  but  on  her  arrival  found 
her  sister  in  her  usual  health,  quite  unconscious 
that  any  such  telegram  had  been  sent.  The  land- 
lady returned  as  soon  as  possible,  but  too  late. 
Half  an  hour  after  her  departure,  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery appeared  with  an  expressman,  and  carried 
away  her  trunk,  the  landlady  in  her  haste  having 
forgotten  to  leave  any  instructions  on  the  subject 
with  the  servants.  It  may  be  as  well  in  this  con- 
nection to  add  that  Mr.  Montgomery  was  found 
guilty  of  the  offense  charged  against  him,  through 
the  testimony  of  Paul,  and  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing 
for  a  term  of  years.  The  sentence  would  not 
have  been  so  severe  but  for  the  manner  of  the  rob- 
bery, and  the  fact  that  he  was  an  old  offender. 
His  wife,  left  to  her  own  resources,  is  prey- 
ing upon  the  community  in  a  variety  of  char- 
acters. 


230  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

Sometimes  she  is  a  widow,  seeking  the  assist- 
ance of  the  charitable  to  carry  her  back  to  her 
children  in  Canada.  Sometimes  she  begs  help 
for  an  invalid  husband  and  family  of  dependent 
children.  In  fact,  being  a  woman  of  fertile  in- 
vention, and  ready  adaptation  to  new  characters, 
she  is  not  likely  to  starve,  but  there  is  some  chance 
of  the  law  eventually  taking  cognizance  of  her 
not  very  creditable  shifts  to  make  a  living.  As 
the  compact  between  her  and  her  husband  was 
one  of  interest  rather  than  of  affection,  her  grief 
at  his  confinement  is  not  very  deep.  Still  she  will 
be  glad  to  welcome  him  on  his  return  to  freedom, 
though  the  community  can  hardly  be  congratu- 
lated on  the  event. 

When  Paul  left  the  house  in  Amity  Street,  he 
did  not  at  once  return  home,  but  took  a  University 
Place  car  as  far  as  the  Astor  House.  He  was  in 
a  hurry  to  conclude  his  bargain  with  George 
Barry,  fearing  lest  Barry  might  accept  the  other 
offer,  unless  he  presented  himself  promptly.  In 
point  of  fact,  he  found  Barry  talking  with  the 
other  applicant.  As  he  came  up  he  heard  Barry 
say :  "  I  can't  give  you  a  decided  answer  until  I 
see  Paul  Hoffman.  I  have  given  him  the  refusal 
of  the  stand  until  to-morrow." 

"How  much  docs  he  offer?"  asked  the 
stranger. 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  231 

"  He  will  pay  me  thirty-five  dollars,  if  he  can 
raise  the  money." 

"  Do  you  think  he  can  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  certain.  If  he  can't,  I  may  accept 
your  offer,  though  I  ought  to  have  more 
money." 

The  other  would  have  offered  more,  but  from 
what  Barry  said  he  concluded  that  Paul  would 
be  unable  to  raise  the  money,  and  he  would 
succeed  in  getting  the  stand  at  his  own 
price. 

It  was  just  at  this  moment  that  Paul  came 
lip. 

"  Well,  Paul,  what  news?  "  asked  Barry. 

"  I  am  ready  to  buy  your  stand,"  said  Paul. 

*'  Can  you  pay  me  all  the  money  down  ?  " 

"  On  the  spot." 

"  Then  it  is  all  settled,"  said  Barry,  with  satis- 
faction. "  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  now  I  shall  be  able 
to  go  on  to  Philadelphia  to-morrow." 

Paul  drew  a  roll  of  bills  from  his  pocket,  and 
proceeded  to  count  out  thirty-five  dollars.  Barry 
noticed  with  surprise  that  he  had  a  considerable 
amount  left. 

"  You  are  getting  rich,  Paul,"  he  said. 

"  I  am  not  rich  yet,"  answered  Paul,  "  but  I 
mean  to  be  some  time  if  I  can  accomplish  it  by 
industry  and  attention  to  business." 


232  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  You'll  be  sure  to  succeed,"  said  George  Barry. 
"  You're  just  the  right  sort.  Good-by,  old  fellow. 
.When  you  come  on  to  Philadelphia  come  and  see 
me." 

"  I  may  establish  a  branch  stand  in  Philadelphia 
before  long,"  said  Paul  jocosely. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

CONCLUSION 

When  Paul  was  left  in  charge  of  the  stand,  and 
realized  that  it  was  his  own,  he  felt  a  degree  of 
satisfaction  which  can  be  imagined.  He  had  been 
a  newsboy,  a  baggage-smasher,  and  in  fact  had 
pretty  much  gone  the  round  of  the  street  trades, 
but  now  he  felt  that  he  had  advanced  one  step 
higher. 

Some  of  my  readers  may  not  appreciate  the 
difference,  but  to  Paul  it  was  a  great  one.  He 
was  not  a  merchant  prince,  to  be  sure,  but  he  had 
a  fixed  place  of  business,  and  with  his  experience 
he  felt  confident  he  could  make  it  pay  him 
well. 

"  I  am  sure  I  can  make  from  ten  to  fifteen  dol- 
lars a  week,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  averaged 
over  a  dollar  a  day  when  I  worked  for  George 
Barry,  and  then  I  only  got  half  profits.  Now  I 
shall  have  the  whole." 

This  consideration  was  a  very  agreeable  one. 


234  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

He  would  be  able  to  maintain  his  mother  and  Kttfe 
Jimmy  in  greater  comfort  than  before,  and  this 
he  cared  more  for  than  for  any  extra  indulgences 
for  himself. 

In  fact,  he  could  relieve  his  mother  en- 
tirely from  the  necessity  of  working,  and  yet 
live  better  than  at  present.  When  Paul  thought 
of  this,  it  gave  him  a  thrill  of  satisfaction,  and 
made  him  feel  almost  like  a  man. 

He  set  to  work  soliciting  custom,  and  soon 
had  sold  three  neckties  at  twenty-five  cents 
each. 

"  All  that  money  is  mine,"  he  thought  proudly. 
"  I  haven't  got  to  hand  any  of  it  over  to  George 
Barry.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  comfort  in 
that." 

As  this  thought  occurred  to  him  he  recognized 
an  old  acquaintance  strolling  along  the  sidewalk 
in  his  direction.  It  was  no  other  than  Jim 
Parker,  the  friend  and  crony  of  Mike  Donovan, 
who  will  be  remembered  as  figuring  in  not  a  very 
creditable  way  in  the  earlier  chapters  of  this  story. 
It  so  happened  that  he  and  Paul  had  not  met  for 
some  time,  and  Jim  was  quite  ignorant  of  Paul's 
rise  in  life. 

As  for  Jim  himself,  no  great  change  had  taken 
place  in  his  appearance  or  prospects.  His  suit 
was  rather  more  ragged  and  dirty  than  when  we 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  235 

first  made  his  acquaintance,  having  been  worn 
night  and  day  in  the  streets,  by  night  stretched  out 
in  some  dirty  alley  or  out-of-way  corner,  where 
Jim  found  cheap  lodgings.  He  strolled  along  with 
his  hands  in  his  pockets,  not  much  concerned  at 
the  deficiencies  in  his  costume. 

"  Hallo ! "  said  he,  stopping  opposite  Paul's 
stand.  "  What  are  you  up  to  ?  " 

"  You  can  see  for  yourself,"  answered  PauU 
"I  am  selling  neckties." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  at  it?" 

"Just  begun." 

"Who's  your  boss?" 

"  I  haven't  any." 

"  You  ain't  runnin'  the  stand  yourself,  be 
you  ?  "  asked  Jim,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes." 

"  Where'd  you  borrow  the  stamps  ?  " 

"Of  my  mother,"  said  Paul.  "Can't  I  sell' 
you  a  necktie  this  morning?  " 

"  Not  much,"  said  Jim,  laughing  at  the  joke. 
"  I've  got  my  trunks  stuffed  full  of  'em  at  home, 
but  I  don't  wear  'em  only  Sundays.  Do  you 
make  much  money  ?  " 

"  I  expect  to  do  pretty  well." 

"  What  made  you  give  up  selling  prize  pack- 
ages ?  "  asked  Jim  slyly. 

"  Customers  like  you,"  answered  Paul. 


236  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

Jim  laughed. 

"  You  didn't  catch  me  that  time  you  lost  your 
basket,"  he  said. 

"  That  was  a  mean  trick,"  said  Paul  indig- 
nantly. 

"  You  don't  want  to  hire  me  to  sell  for  you,  do 
you?" 

"  That's  where  you're  right.  You're  a  good 
guesser,  I  don't." 

"  I'd  like  to  go  into  the  business." 

"  You'd  better  open  a  second-hand  clothing 
store,"  suggested  Paul,  glancing  at  his  com- 
panion's ragged  attire. 

"Maybe  I  will,"  said  Jim  with  a  grin,  "if 
you'll  buy  of  me." 

"  I  don't  like  the  style,"  said  Paul.  "  Who's 
your  tailor?  " 

"  He  lives  round  in  Chatham  Street.  Say, 
can't  you  lend  a  fellow  a  couple  of  shillin'  to  buy 
some  breakfast  ?  " 

"  Have  you  done  any  work  to-day?  " 

"  No." 

"Then  you  can't  expect  to  eat  if  you  don't 
work." 

"  I  didn't  have  no  money  to  start  with,  and  you 
can't  start  without  capital." 

"  Suppose  you  had  a  quarter,  what  would  you 
do?" 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  237 

"  I'd  buy  a  ten-cent  plate  of  meat,  and  buy 
some  evenin'  papers  with  the  rest." 

"  If  you'll  do  that,  I'll  give  you  what  you  ask 
for." 

"  You'll  give  me  two  shillin'  ?  "  repeated  Jim 
incredulously,  for  he  remembered  how  he  had 
wronged  Paul. 

"  Yes,"  said  Paul.  "  Here's  the  money,"  and 
he  drew  a  twenty-five  cent  piece  from  his  vest 
pocket,  and  handed  it  to  Jim. 

"  You  give  me  that  after  the  mean  trick  I 
played  you  ?  "  said  Jim. 

"  Yes ;  I  am  sorry  for  you  and  want  to  help 
you  along." 

"  You're  a  brick ! "  exclaimed  Jim  emphatically. 
"  If  any  feller  tries  to  play  a  trick  on  you,  you  just 
tell  me,  and  I'll  give  him  the  worst  licking  he 
ever  had." 

"All  right,  Jim!"  said  Paul  kindly;  "I'll  re- 
member it." 

"  There  ain't  anybody  you  want  licked,  is 
there  ?  "  asked  Jim  earnestly. 

"  Not  at  present,  thank  you,"  said  Paul, 
smiling. 

"  When  you  do,  just  call  on  me  and  I'll  be  on 
hand,"  said  Jim.  "  Now  I'll  go  and  get  some 
grub." 

He  shuffled  along  toward  Ann  Street  where 


238  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

there  was  a  cheap  eating-house  in  which  ten  cents 
would  pay  for  a  plate  of  meat.  He  was  decidedly 
hungry,  and  did  justice  to  the  restaurant,  whose 
style  of  cookery,  though  not  very  choice,  suited 
him  so  well  that  he  could  readily  have  eaten  three 
plates  of  meat  instead  of  one,  but  for  the  prudent 
thought  that  compelled  him  to  reserve  enough  to 
embark  in  business  afterwards.  Jim  was  cer- 
tainly a  hard  ticket;  but  Paul's  unexpected  kind- 
ness had  won  him,  and  produced  a  more  profound 
impression  than  a  dozen  floggings  could  have 
done. 

I  may  add  that  Jim  proved  lucky  in  his  busi- 
ness investment,  and  by  the  close  of  the  after- 
noon had  money  enough  to  provide  himself  with 
supper  and  lodging,  besides  a  small  fund  to  start 
with  the  next  day. 

Paul  sold  three  more  neckties,  and  then,  though 
it  yet  lacked  an  hour  of  the  time  when  he  gener- 
ally proposed  to  close,  he  prepared  to  go  home. 
He  wanted  to  communicate  the  good  news  to  his 
mother  and  little  Jimmy. 

Mrs.  Hoffman  raised  her  eyes  from  her  sewing 
as  he  entered. 

"Well,  Paul,"  she  said,  "  have  you  heard  any- 
thing of  the  ring?  " 

"  Yes,  mother,  it's  sold." 

"  Is  it  ?     Well,  we  must  do  without  it,  then/* 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  239 

said  his  mother  in  a  tone  of  disappoint- 
ment. 

"  There  won't  be  any  trouble  about  that, 
mother,  as  long  as  we  have  got  the  money  for  it. 
I  would  much  rather  have  the  money  than  the 
ring." 

"  Did  you  recover  it,  then  ?  "  asked  his  mother 
eagerly. 

"  Yes,  mother — listen  and  I  will  tell  you  all 
about  it." 

He  sat  down  and  told  the  story  to  two  very 
attentive  listeners. 

"  What  did  you  do  with  the  money,  Paul  ?  " 
asked  Jimmy. 

"  Mr.  Preston  is  keeping  a  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  for  me.  He  will  allow  seven  per  cent, 
interest.  But  I  must  not  forget  that  the  money 
belongs  to  you,  mother,  and  not  to  me.  Perhaps 
you  would  prefer  to  deposit  it  in  a  savings 
bank." 

"  I  am  quite  satisfied  with  your  disposal  of  it, 
Paul,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman.  "I  little  thought, 
when  I  found  the  ring,  that  it  would  be  of  such 
service  to  us." 

"  It  has  set  me  up  in  business,"  said  Paul,  "  and 
I  am  sure  to  make  money.  But  I  am  getting  out 
of  stock.  I  must  go  round  and  buy  some  more 
neckties  to-morrow." 


240  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

"  How  much  do  you  pay  for  your  ties,  Paul  ?  " 
asked  his  mother. 

"  One  shilling;  I  sell  them  for  two.  That 
gives  me  a  good  profit." 

"  I  wonder  whether  I  couldn't  make  them  ?  " 
said  Mrs.  Hoffman.  "  I  find  there  is  no  sewing 
at  present  to  be  got,  and  besides,"  she  added,  "  I 
think  I  would  rather  work  for  you  than  for  a 
stranger." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  your  working  any  more 
at  all,  mother.  I  can  earn  enough  to  support  the 
family." 

"  While  I  have  health  I  would  prefer  to  work, 
Paul." 

"  Then  I  will  bring  around  some  of  the  ties  to- 
morrow. I  have  two  or  three  kinds.  There  is 
nothing  very  hard  about  any  of  them.  I  think 
they  would  be  easy  to  make." 

"  That  will  suit  me  much  better  than  making 
shirts." 

"  Suppose  I  admit  you  to  the  firm,  mother?  I 
can  get  a  large  signboard,  and  have  painted 
on  it: 

"  PAUL  HOFFMAN  AND  MOTHER, 

"  Dealers  in  Neckties. 
How  would  that  sound  ?  " 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  241 

*'I  think  I  would  leave  the  business  part  in 
your  hands,  Paul." 

"  I  begin  to  feel  like  a  wholesale  merchant  al- 
ready," said  Paul.  "  Who  knows  but  I  may  be 
one  some  day?  " 

"  Many  successful  men  have  begun  as  low 
down,"  said  his  mother  earnestly;  "  with  energy, 
industry,  and  perseverance  much  may  be  accom- 
plished." 

"  Do  you  think  I'll  ever  be  a  wholesale 
painter  ?  "  asked  Jimmy,  whose  small  ears  had 
drank  in  the  conversation. 

"  Better  try  for  it,  Jimmy,"  said  Paul.  "  I 
don't  know  exactly  what  a  wholesale  painter  is, 
unless  it's  one  who  paints  houses." 

"  I  don't  think  I  should  like  that,"  said  the 
little  boy. 

"  Then,  Jimmy,  you'd  better  be  a  retail 
painter." 

"  I  guess  I  will,"  said  Jimmy  seriously. 

Thus  far  we  have  accompanied  Paul  Hoffman 
in  his  career.  He  is  considerably  better  off  than 
when  we  met  him  peddling  prize  packages  in  front 
of  the  post  office.  But  we  have  reason  to  believe 
that  greater  success  awaits  him.  He  will  figure 
in  the  next  two  volumes  of  this  series,  more  par- 
ticularly in  the  second,  to  be  called  "  Slow  and 
Sure;  or,  From  the  Sidewalk  to  the  Shop."  Be- 


242  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER 

fore  this  appears,  however,  I  propose  to  describe 
the  adventures  of  a  friend  and  protege  of  Paul's 
— under  the  title  of 

PHIL,  THE  FIDDLER; 

or, 
{THE  YOUNG  STREET  MUSICIAN. 


THE  END 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


L    MAR  3 11975 

WAR  2  2  1975-* 


,OISCHARGb-UKL 


KFrn  ID-URC 
OCT101980 


•«  1983 


?orm  L9-Series  444 


RE(TO  tO-URC 

:JUJN?41986 


Btt 


REC-D 
JUN  1  5  JJ 

JUN1 


REC'D  LD-URL 


OJilVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
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